Scoliosis is defined as the lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine. It affects 5 to 7 million people in the United States. It can begin at any age, but it is most commonly found in adolescents.

In more than 80 percent of cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown or idiopathic. Functional scoliosis is often caused by some postural problem, muscle spasm, or leg-length inequality, which can often be addressed. Structural scoliosis does not reduce with postural maneuvers. Either type can be idiopathic or have an underlying cause such as trauma, neurological disease or tumors.

Patients with spinal curvatures often require an x-ray evaluation of the spine. The procedure helps determine the location and magnitude of the scoliosis, along with an underlying cause not evident on physical examination, other associated curvatures, and the health of other organ systems that might be affected by the scoliosis.

Spinal manipulation, therapeutic exercise, and electrical muscle stimulation have been advocated in the treatment of scoliosis. For patients with back pain along with the scoliosis, manipulation and exercise may be of help.

A recent research study in Global Advances in Health and Medicine, September 2014 has shown that performing a single yoga pose for 90 seconds three times a week may reduce spine curvature in patients with scoliosis in as little as three months. Scoliosis patients who did the side plank pose on the side their spine was curved toward experienced a significant improvement in their spinal curvature. Researchers found that spinal curvature improved by about 32 percent in all patients and it improved by 40.9 percent for the patients who performed the pose for at least three days a week. Among these patients, adolescents saw a 49.6 percent improvement in curvature, while adults saw a 38.4 percent improvement. The authors of the study conclude that asymmetrically strengthening the convex side of the primary scoliosis curvature with a side plank exercise performed daily appears to reduce curvature.

Most people with scoliosis lead normal, happy, and productive lives. Yoga (specifically the side plank) is generally well-tolerated and definitely worth adding as a daily exercise.

For more information, contact Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.