By Amy Tan | 10 August 2010

Often the scenario happens when parents abruptly discover their teenage child’s scoliosis, usually after some complaints of backache which brought them to the doctor’s office for a spinal x-ray. The first reaction is often panic and despair, plus an urgency to find a solution to ‘straighten’ the spine. A scoliotic spine is no less healthy than a straight spine, and when discovered during the early teens, many options are available to manage the condition, not to cure it.

Most popular treatments available include physiotherapy and chiropractic work for the milder curvatures while with stronger curvatures are recommended a brace or spinal surgery to stabilize the curve. Before embarking on a treatment strategy hastily, parents should take some time to evaluate the most suitable option for their child.

It is important to understand the nature of scoliosis. It develops in children around early teens and many researches have been carried out to determine its cause, however there hasn’t been clear, conclusive results. Hence most cases of scoliosis are diagnosed as idiopathic – arising from an unknown cause.

In the somatic and structural integration world, we understand scoliosis as a 3-dimensional tensional pattern existing in the deep layers of embryological membranes. However this conclusion is not scientifically proven but observed from hands-on work and qualitative information received through working with clients. It is clear though that the physical expression of this rotational pattern is what we can visually see as the curvature of the spine and the adaptation of the external musculature.

The positive potential of intervention during the early teens will enable the child’s growth to continue through minimizing the imbalances of the rotational patterns through manual structural bodywork and movement exercises.

Experts in movement analysis and conditioning have found that spatial and kinesthetic awareness in those with scoliosis is generally poorer than those with a straight spine. This awareness is related to the way our body coordinates movement and how well we are able to be aware of our body when we perform our movements. Improving the spatial and kinesthetic awareness of the body will change the way the body moves – the joints and muscles will coordinate in a different pattern thus bringing a change in skeletal structure, in this case, a scoliotic spine.

When we speak about changing structure, we don’t only refer to the spinal curvature. Too often in conventional treatments for scoliosis, all the attention is singularly directed at reducing the degree of curvature that they forget to look a the entire body, in relation to the spine. Are they standing equally on both feet, can they sit evenly on their pelvis?

The ideal ways to promote body awareness is through exercise and movement, particularly those which encourage the person to cultivate their own body awareness such as yoga and Pilates. In fact, all forms of exercises and sports are highly encouraged. We find that often complaints of body aches and tension arise from the lack of movement rather than too much movement.

Psychologically exercise also will boost self-confidence in the child. Imagine being subjected to x-rays, examinations and discussions about their ‘crookedness’. All these will have a psychological effect on their emotional well-being. As their self-confidence deteriorates, the body naturally would curl up more in reaction to being conscious of their curvature. Parents have a crucial role to play, to reassure that it is absolutely fine to have a curved spine and there is nothing wrong with them.

A case study
Noticing a deterioration in her daughter’s posture and with her own experience of scoliosis, a mother enrolled her 14-year old daughter for weekly Pilates lessons while her curvature was mild. Six years later, as a young woman now, her overall posture has improved and her curvature did not increase significantly. Apart from the good posture, she is now committed to maintaining regular exercise because she is aware of how it helps her feel good in her own body. Between her exercises, we also introduced a series of Rolfing sessions to work on the underlying structural issues which exercise alone cannot address.

We always believed in approaching scoliosis in a holistic, natural way through exercises, movement education and structural bodywork because the priority is not a straight a spine but more importantly, a happy teenager, comfortable in their own body and a functional body free of pain and aches so nothing gets in the way of pursuing anything their heart desires. Also we are aware that some more severe cases of scoliosis require a surgery when the curvature is affecting organ function with a risk of other complications. Her words are the best description of our work together, “I feel tall and straight, even though my spine is not.”

If you share our perspective of approaching scoliosis, we welcome you to get in touch with us and we look forward to working together with you.