Structural Scoliosis

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello Mukunda,
Next case I have is a post menopausal/ large bone woman whom has structural scoliosis. Curve in the Lumbar spine beginning to worsen and cause pain. (5 degree curve to the left)

        A - IS this X ray or scoliometer reading?

SI joint lowers on the right with leg lift. Stays the same on the right. Her spine then stays straight until around T-1 or T-2 and makes a dramatic curve to the right to 30 degrees ending around about C-5. The spine appears very rotated to me. Of course, her right shoulder is higher and her right hand rotates palm back.

        A ? So she has the traditional double curve left lumbar and right thoracic.  I assume 30 degree reading from Xray?

shoulder flexion L 160, R 132

External rotation L 90 R 80

Internal Rotation L 45 R 74

Extention L 50 R 55

Neck lateral flexion L 42 R 30

Rotation L 58 R50

Unfortunately, we were unable to do muscle testing but can get client back if you think we need to.

#2

A ? Definitely you need to. To be accurate don?t make assumptions but isolate the muscles you believe contributing to the curves. On second thought after reading next sentence, only go there if she takes recommendations serious and begins to as for more to do. We want her to be motivated to do homework.

Client might be motivated to spend 10 minutes a day helping spine. Most work would be done in a slightly gentle class I teach her once a week.

I have ideas for adjustments in a few poses, please let me know if you agree. I understand the idea is to adjust poses to straighten spine.

For Lumbar area, Cat Pose with left leg brought forward.

Parsvottanasana, Right arm along side body, left arm reaching forward. Maybe the neck would look to the side.

Flying Cobra , again right arm along side body so it stays neutral. Left scapula adduction, shoulder extension.

Forward Bending Poses I’m not sure…

I realize it is possible that I am totally wrong. But I have to give it my best try. Thank You for your time and generosity these last few days.

      A ? I would say recommendations are good ? plus not to give forward being poses.  Also can add locust with the legs off set from center to the left to correct lumbar curve.  That and cat would be main recommendations.  namaste
#3

Hi I live in the UK and have e-mailed the UK Yoga Society and have been in touch with various international scoliosis forums. I am trying to get my hands on a video or book called ‘Yoga for Scoliosis’ by Elsie Browning Miller who has straightened her back out and is reasonably pain free with teaching Iyengar Yoga. She specialises in back care and sports related injuries. Does anyone have any idea where I can get hold of her video in the uk.

I am currently seeing a chiropractor and am on a waiting list to see a scoliosis specialist and am doing pilates floor work stretches at home for an hour, twice a day which is keeping my joints mobile but I cannot walk, stand or sit for very long due to pains in my psoas muscle,QL muscle, SI joint and have a permanent painful swelling in the groin which isnt right as Im a girl!

Here’s hoping someone can advise me of an English stockist of this video.

Cheers

Barbs

#4

Go to my website late next week. I just updated my links and there are several new links for you to search for hard to find yoga items. I do not know about getting specifically in UK. Elise Miller has a booklet and a video on this subject i saw recently in Calif. workshop we gave together. did you try her website for leads? www.ebmyoga.com

For your swelling i would recommend regular practice of my Joint Freeing Series. One of the graduates of my Structural Yoga Therapy course did a specialty paper on lymphedema and this series was shown to be particularly benefical to that type of problem. I suspect that is what is swollen. Best wishes.

#5

Thank you for replying to me. I have been on Elsie Browning Millers website and have e-mailed her asking her where to get the video in the UK and so far had no reply.

My lymph node in my groin is swollen and the tissue around it also and (I think its a ligament) that runs between the hip bone and the groin at the front of your body. I have had an MRI scan of the hips and pelvis and am now on a waiting list for one for my back. They thought I had psoas bursitis but nothing untoward showed up on the scan.

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers

Barbs

#6

Hello Mukunda,
I was wondering how to adapt the Parsvottanasana pose to best help straighten my spine.
I have a scoliosis of 25-30 degrees to the right side (if you are watching my back from behind) , which is not causing me any problems (I am 30 years old, male).
I was practising with an Iyengar yoga teacher since 1,5 years now (once or twice a week). The problem is i am currently working in Africa, so I don’t have access to a teacher.
namaste