Scoliosis is a chronic condition that can affect your day-to-day activities. Managing pain, maintaining good posture, and staying active are all key to improving daily mobility and comfort. Remember: Regularly checking in with your physician will help keep your scoliosis management on track. Small changes add up to a healthier, more pain-free life. Here are some simple ways you can improve your daily routine and manage your scoliosis.

Self-Care Strategies For Scoliosis

Here are some daily self-care strategies that you can incorporate into your routine to help with scoliosis symptoms.

Being aware of posture and ergonomics: Understand your unique spinal curvature to maintain good posture. No matter what type of scoliosis you’re dealing with, there are certain things anybody can do to maintain good posture:

• Using an ergonomic chair that supports your neutral spine position
• Positioning your computer screen at eye level so your spine doesn’t have to strain as much
• Investing in an ergonomic chair to support your neutral spine position

Incorporating more physical activity: While it may be hard to have the motivation to exercise when you feel sore, or when movement feels difficult, certain kinds of exercises can improve your scoliosis symptoms and alleviate pain over time. Some particularly beneficial exercises include:

• Modified yoga focusing on poses to help with spine flexibility
• Pilates to strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine
• Swimming can be ideal as the buoyancy takes pressure off your joints and muscles

Lifestyle Adjustments To Incorporate

Simple lifestyle adjustments can improve your symptoms significantly. Here are some things to try.

Sleeping in an optimal manner: How you sleep can impact your spinal alignment significantly – after all, it’s how your spine is resting for (hopefully, at least) eight hours a day! Use a medium-firm mattress, avoid stomach sleeping, and when sleeping on your side try placing a pillow between your knees.

Eating properly: Diet alone will not correct your scoliosis. However, proper spine health is impossible without proper nutrition. Your diet should include natural sources of vitamin D (fatty fishes, egg yolks, fortified foods), Calcium-rich foods (leafy dark greens and dairy), and anti-inflammatory foods (nuts, berries)

Seeking Professional Support When Needed

Regular monitoring is important if you suffer from severe scoliosis or are still developing. Growing adolescents and adults with stable curves should be having checkups every 4-6 months. If the following signs pop up, it’s time to check in with your health care provider:

• If the pain levels change significantly
• Difficulty with daily activities
• Noticeable changes in posture
• Concerns about curve progression

Your healthcare provider may provide a range of treatment options depending on your individual case. For those with mild scoliosis, bracing and physical therapy may be all that is necessary. Surgical intervention may be recommended for cases of severe scoliosis. Again, the key to optimizing your life with this condition is consistent monitoring and early intervention.

Contact Us Today

Scoliosis is a condition that affects millions of children and adults. With the appropriate medical intervention and proper lifestyle adjustments, many people can lead lives unhindered by scoliosis. Call The Spine and Scoliosis Center to learn more today.