Scoliosis

JillSlap · 05-16-2008, 10:59 AM

So it turns out I have scoliosis. Boo.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else has this, and if so, does it affect the way you work out your back? I never have any pain or anything, but I don't want to do anything that'll make my spine crookeder (shazaam! I love inventing words!)

Any help is appreciated!

SophieM · 05-16-2008, 11:03 AM

I think it will really depend on how bad the scoliosis is and if it's going to get worse or not. I have scoliosis from an injury and it will not get worse with time. It's also very slight.

JillSlap · 05-16-2008, 11:07 AM

Cool. My chiro said it should stay about the way it is, barring acute injury. I just don't want my lifting to compound the problem, although it seems that if anything, having stronger muscles around the spine would actually be beneficial.

I asked him what he thinks, but dr's know so little about exercise in general and weightlifting specifically that he couldn't really give me an answer.

darkangel · 05-16-2008, 12:15 PM

An ER doc informed me I had scoliosis when they took xrays of my trunk for something totally unrelated. (Gee thanks Doc!) I've never had any treatment and have never altered my workouts in any way to accommodate it.

jess1228 · 05-16-2008, 12:38 PM

Yep! I had two 65+ degree curves when I was younger and had 10 vertebrae of my spine fused at age 14. My rib cage is still rotated, so it's more prominent on my right side (the infamous scoliosis "rib hump") and causes a winged scapula on that side.

I personally don't do heavy back squats because they irritate my spine. My physical therapist told me not to do any heavy overhead movements either (although I sometimes do anyway

). I would recommend going to a physical therapist for a few sessions just to see if they notice any imbalances. I had an anterior pelvic tilt, tight right hip flexor, and weak internal abdominal muscles. I was able to make major progress in all of those after learning some corrective exercises.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions.

JillSlap · 05-16-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jess1228

Yep! I had two 65+ degree curves when I was younger and had 10 vertebrae of my spine fused at age 14. My rib cage is still rotated, so it's more prominent on my right side (the infamous scoliosis "rib hump") and causes a winged scapula on that side.

I personally don't do heavy back squats because they irritate my spine. My physical therapist told me not to do any heavy overhead movements either (although I sometimes do anyway

). I would recommend going to a physical therapist for a few sessions just to see if they notice any imbalances. I had an anterior pelvic tilt, tight right hip flexor, and weak internal abdominal muscles. I was able to make major progress in all of those after learning some corrective exercises.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions.

Holy schnikeys! The only overhead work I do is military presses, and I think I lift far too little weight at this point for it to be problematic, but as I get stronger, perhaps I'll have to rethink it...

I'm supposed to get checked out further on my next appointment. I know I have a reverse curve in my neck and a short leg, too. These may present a problem as well.

MiaFey · 05-16-2008, 01:10 PM

I know I have scoliosis since the age of 15. The doctor diagnosed it to be 13 degree off then. Now I don't know how it is. But, I realized that the more I exercise, the less pain I have. Working on my abs helps a lot to support my back and listening to my body when I exercise too. If I feel ANY discomfort in the back, I stop and do something else.

ThatArmyKid · 05-16-2008, 01:12 PM

i have this and it is still visable one shoulder is lower then the other but it really hasn't held me back
<<<<<<<<<<<<

i went to therapy for a while to straighten myself out literally

o yea i have spinal bifita too...

Kai2008 · 05-16-2008, 01:52 PM

I was told I had slight scoliosis when I was younger. A few of the bumps on my spine stick out a little more than they should. I've never changed any workouts or had problems because of this......I just dont wear backless dresses

jess1228 · 05-16-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JillSlap

Holy schnikeys! The only overhead work I do is military presses, and I think I lift far too little weight at this point for it to be problematic, but as I get stronger, perhaps I'll have to rethink it...

I'm supposed to get checked out further on my next appointment. I know I have a reverse curve in my neck and a short leg, too. These may present a problem as well.

Yep, I think the shorter leg thing is due to the pelvis being slightly tilted from the curved spine. One of mine is very slightly shorter as well. I've heard of some people having problems with one of the legs building muscle more than the other due to the length difference, but I've never noticed a difference...?

Amanda76 · 05-16-2008, 09:33 PM

I have slight scoliosis...an "S" curve in my lower spine that makes my hips uneven (one leg is shorter than the other) and my upper spine "twists like a rope" (that's how it looks in x-rays...I'm sure rather than being "twisted" the vertebrae are just stacked funny), making one shoulder blade stick out further than the other.

It hasn't done much to change how I work my back, other than me having to make sure that I'm taking both sides through the same path when I lift. But lots of people have issues with that. Oddly enough, I have more issue with pushing exercises than pulling.

I have learned that it's best to stay away from upper body "pushing" machines. Front flye machines and lat raise machines where my back is facing the seat also have caused issues (I have to be able to either rotate my through my shoulders or hips and having my back pressed into a seat when I'm pinned into a machine doesn't allow for that to happen like you can while holding a BB or DBs). And I can't use a smith machine for squats unless I have my feet way out in front of the bar to target glutes (I know people with healthy spine curvature that have an issue with standing directly under the bar of a smith machine, too, though). Basically, I have issues using any machine that pins your back into one position and forces you into a range of motion that your body may not be designed to follow.

Free weights are a different story...with my torso completely free to move, I haven't found an exercise I can't do safely (I do have to pay attention to my lower back...if it seems iffy, I just skip things that place a big load on it for a week and I'm fine).

Weight training has only HELPED my back. Doctors told me not to lift more than 40 lbs, used electronic stimulus and gave me a bunch of core exercises to do to strengthen the muscles supporting my spine. None of that really seemed to make a difference. It used to hurt all the time from being weak...When I was a kid I'd start crying for "no reason" because the feeling would irritate me so much. And would be embarrassed when I'd get caught feeling sorry for myself like that. LOL

Needless to say, I didn't take their advice about the 40 pound weight limit and actually credit challenging my back with making it feel better. Now it's sore pretty often, but that's a lot different from the dull, aggravating pain I used to feel.

RebeccaTD · 05-17-2008, 05:28 PM

I am SO happy that people recognise the links between scoliosis and exercises (strengthening exercise to be precise). It is a shame that there isn't more use of exercise as treatment techniques. I use them with my patients almost all the time and it is cheap, effective, can be done by people themselves (unlike a massage or a machine which require someone else or equipment).

All the advice given here is sensible and I would encourage you to get checked out by a therapist (as Jess suggested) as if there are any imbalances you can get them addressed, and then it's over to you to maintain and build better muscle to promote a better posture.

Good luck!!

Rebecca

trish123 · 05-18-2008, 11:18 AM

I have scoliosis too. Although I've never had to alter my workout routine for it, I am learning a few things that are side effects when it comes to working out.

1. When I get out of alignment one of my hips turns forward, causing one leg to be slightly longer than the other (usually about 3/4 inch or so). I don't realize it until my chiro adjusts me and then it just "feels" different / more even when I'm on my feet.

2. Recently I started having knee tendonitis in one of my knees, the same side each time. The chiro said it is likely that when I get really out of alignment, it is putting more strain on that knee when doing heavier leg stuff (bench step-ups really seem to get it inflamed if out of alignment). Net for me: try to get to the chiro at least once a month for "maintenance" adjustments.

RXlady · 05-18-2008, 12:38 PM

When I was in my teens I was told I had a 15 degree curve between my shoulder blades and I was told it was nothing to worry about. A few years back I had really poor posture and pain between my shoulder blades. I focused on back and core trainig for a while which really helped. I do find that I have to be careful not to let my spine curve when lifting....especially doing dead lifts. My advice is to be conscious of your posture when lifing heavy and you should be fine.

It was funny to read this thread. Every time I get my pants hemmed there is always one leg shorter than the other when I get them back. This is the first time I clued in that it might have something to do with my spine.

airheadxo · 05-18-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JillSlap

So it turns out I have scoliosis. Boo.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else has this, and if so, does it affect the way you work out your back? I never have any pain or anything, but I don't want to do anything that'll make my spine crookeder (shazaam! I love inventing words!)

Any help is appreciated!

I have a 'touch' of scoliosis as well, I've had mine since school. I actually started developing it because I carried my heavy book bag on one certain shoulder all the time, anyway! Since then I've had back problems, I can't lay flat on my back or flat on my stomach, or else it takes me about 5 minutes to maneuver to get back up, ha. I haven't been working out LONG but since I have I've noticed the back pain starting to subside, I do most of my exercises on my Bowflex. So I don't think it could really hurt it TOO much if any, and I'm pretty sure it won't make it any more crooked.

TurbulentFluid · 05-19-2008, 01:40 AM

Yes, I have 3D scoliosis... I used to take great care during my first year of training, nad work my back hard but careful in order to strengthen it. Also did a lot of core exercises in order to power up my middle to support my back and compensate for the faulty bone structure. I also used mainly barbells in order to achieve maximum symmetry during lifts. I started using dbs only after a year, at first only on exercises which provided support for my back (db flat/incline/decline bench press, seated db press).

What I DO refrain from even now, is excessive assymetrycal work with dbs, eg alternate curls, single arm exercises, etc. I'm not saying never do any; I'm just saying take care, don't go too heavy, don't cheat on the form and alltogether mind what you're doing a bit more.

amberlyann2005 · 05-19-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JillSlap

So it turns out I have scoliosis. Boo.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else has this, and if so, does it affect the way you work out your back? I never have any pain or anything, but I don't want to do anything that'll make my spine crookeder (shazaam! I love inventing words!)

Any help is appreciated!

I have it. I didnt know it until after I had my son and my back kept going out. I had it checked out, thats when I found out. I train my back the same but I do side planks on one side to help the muscles on my weak side strengthen to compensate (sp?). Mine isnt bad at all but I do have to keep working on it or it will go out again.