What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral (sideways) curve of the
spinal vertebrae.
There are several causes for this
lateral curvature: it can be caused by
degeneration of the joints, prolonged postural issues, and severe back
injuries.
Scoliosis can be structural scoliosis (the bones themselves are
affected) or
functional scoliosis (the muscles are pulling the back out of
place). It is not uncommon for people to have a small degree of curvature that
never affects their daily life. Depending on its severity, you may not even need
the slightest treatment, or only need occasional
physical therapy, and seldom
need for surgery for correction.
Why Massage?
Whatever the cause of the
scoliosis, prolonged improper
body mechanics can
affect the body in a lot of ways. What may have started as a
minor curve can
gradually worsen as the affected muscles tire, atrophy, and
stretch or contract
(depending on which side of the curve they are on).
Massage helps these muscles
by relaxing them and encouraging them to work towards a
proper alignment.
Muscles on the inside of the
curve are stretched and released, while muscles on
the outside are stimulated to contract harder. Often a gradually increasing
curve can be stopped or even partially reversed with consistent
therapy,
stretching, and balancing
strengthening work.
