How to Prevent Scoliosis From Getting Worse

Scoliosis is most often diagnosed in adolescence, when a child's body is changing and growing at an unprecedented rate. For reasons not yet fully understood by science, this rapid growth can trigger an abnormal, sometimes severe, curve in the spine. After more than five decades of actual patient-case studies, only a small number of methods offer hope for arresting the progress of a scoliosis curve. Curves of less than 20 degrees are usually only observed rather than treated. A curve measuring between 20 and 45 degrees is generally treated with a combination of methods, in an attempt to keep it from getting worse.

Things You'll Need

• Exercise mat Exercise ball Custom-made brace

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Instructions

• 1

  Get in shape and stay in shape. Being overweight and/or having poor musculature in the midsection can put a tremendous strain on the spine. If scoliosis already exists, being heavy and out of shape can accelerate progression of the curve. It's all about the "core" muscles, which support the torso. The stronger the core muscles, the less strain there is on the spine. Exercising won't correct a spinal curve, but a solid core is a great start on slowing its progress. A regular gym workout isn't necessary. Simple isometric exercises performed at home using a mat and exercise ball can strengthen the core very effectively.

• 2

  Get fitted for a brace. This method may seem "old school," but a combination of exercise and bracing remains the most common way to keep some curves from progressing. If your curve measures between about 25 and 40 degrees, your orthopedic doctor may prescribe one of several types of custom-fit back braces. The brace will be made by a certified brace maker (orthotist) who will take several measurements and may also make a plaster cast of your entire torso.

• 3

  Wear the brace as directed. You will be instructed as to how many hours to wear it each day for maximum benefit. Some braces (such as the Providence Brace and the Charleston Bending Brace) are worn only at night, but most are to be worn 23 hours each day. The theory behind bracing is to exert opposing force on the curved spine to keep the curve from progressing, not to reverse the curve.

• 4

  Try alternative treatments. Although your orthopedic specialist will most likely recommend only exercise and bracing, you may hear about other possibilities at scoliosis group meetings and other gatherings. Some patients feel they have benefited from chiropractic adjustments, massage, electronic muscle stimulation and other alternative treatments. In most cases, alternative treatments may only relieve some discomfort, but even that is worthwhile. Since there is no way to actually measure the effectiveness of any given treatment (how would you know if the curve would have gotten even larger without treatment?), you'll have to decide for yourself whether such treatments have value for you.

• 5

  Have surgery. The only sure way to keep scoliosis from progressing is surgery, which will also allow the spine to be straightened to a large degree. Surgery can't be performed on a child who is still growing, except in extreme cases, and it does have many risks. On the other hand, adults don't have the option of bracing because their fully-grown bones are no longer pliable. Although it is most certainly the last resort, surgery is the only option remaining once the curve reaches about 45 degrees and the patient's growth is complete. Many thousands of scoliosis patients have had the surgery and have gone on to live completely normal lives.