Lifting with Scoliosis
I was wondering whether anyone here has scoliosis or has trained someone with scoliosis. Mine is pretty significant, about a 30 degree S curve when viewed from the back. It also gives me a significant kyphosis in the upper back and lordosis in the lower back, which always fight each other. e.g. if I straighten the kyphosis the lordosis gets worse and vice versa. I also have a very short torso and don't have much flexibility in my spine.
Regardless, I have always been fairly active. I used to be an avid triathlete and mountain bike racer and have run a few marathons. I also like skiing and alpine snowboarding. I have always been self-conscious of my body because of the poor posture and crooked back, but I never let it hold be back from doing what I like. It never gave me pain until my late 30's (I'm now 47) and then it became cronic. I had chiropractic, accupuncture, and physical therapy. I saw spine specialists and scoliosis specialists. I did yoga and stretching. But nothing gave much relief. Pilates does help, I suppose due to the core strengthening.
I've never been very strong. I used to do strength training on the machine circuit at the gym a couple of times a week and realized that I wasn't getting any stronger from it, so I started the NROL programs earlier this year. I have gained some strength, and it does seem to help my posture a bit. Deadlifts and RDLs do irritate my lower back, but they also seem to be strengthening and balancing out the muscles there.
Anyway, anyone here have any experience with scoliosis? Are there particular exercises that I should or should not do? Any other advice?
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