Scoliosis

DEFINITION: Lateral curvature of the spine beyond 10 degrees. BENEFICIAL POSES: Vasisthasana, Elevated feet Vasisthasana, Ardha Chandrasana with belt. EXPLANATION: Lumbar scoliosis may be corrected by strengthening the muscles on the convex side of the lumbar curve with Vasisthasana. If there is also a thoracic curve, then Vasisthasana with feet elevated on a chair and/or Ardha Chandrasana must be used as well, again with the convex (thoracic) side down.The poses should be held for as long as possible and done at least one time every day (convex side downward). It is often quite difficult to determine the size and even the shape of scoliotic curves without an X-ray. Also pictured is whatthe spine looks like after Harrington Rod surgury. REFERENCE: Fishman, LM, Sherman KJ, Groessl EJ ”Serial Case Reporting Yoga for Idiopathic and Degenerative Scoliosis.” –. Global Adv Health Med. 2014;3(5):16-21. Fishman LM, Groessl EJ, Bernstein P. Two Isometric Yoga Poses Reduce the Curves in Degenerative and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. 33(4):231-237, October/December 2017.