Scoliotic curvatures are considered a rather complex pathological process, since such deformities are difficult to correct and require patience and organization from the patient.
In general, the effectiveness of home therapy depends on the experience of the specialist and the degree of the deforming process. The patient needs patience and a strong desire to achieve the intended goal.
Treatment of scoliosis in adults at home
Before starting the treatment process, you should undergo a thorough examination in order to determine the degree of curvature.
The patient undergoes the necessary diagnostic procedures, the results of which reveal the complexity of the deformity. Curvature is subdivided into 4 degrees. Home therapy will be fully justified only in the early stages of development.
According to experts, at the third stage, surgical correction is most often indicated, and at the fourth stage of the pathology, home treatment of scoliosis is simply meaningless. Treatment tactics also depend on the causes, type and location of the curvature.
For example, a C-shaped deformity is easier to correct than an S-shaped one. In addition, thoracolumbar scoliosis is considered rapidly progressive, forms faster than lumbar scoliosis and leads to more dangerous consequences such as compression of internal organs. This can damage the lungs, liver and stomach, kidneys and intestines.
In general, home therapy is possible only in the first stages of scoliotic deformity. Such therapy is based on massage procedures, therapeutic and gymnastic classes (more details here), wearing bandages or corsets and the use of orthopedic bedding, it will be useful to go swimming and take vitamin complexes. The success of conservative therapy of 1 and 2 degrees of curvature is almost one hundred percent.
Massage
Before prescribing a massage treatment, a specialist carefully studies the medical history, since massage has specific contraindications:
- Bleeding tendency or pathological disorders in the circulatory system;
- Cardiac pathology;
- Purulent cutaneous processes of infectious origin;
- Nervous system pathologies;
- Infectious and inflammatory pathologies of various origins;
- Skin damage and trauma.
Qualitatively performed massage procedures help to inhibit further changes and even get rid of pathology. Several techniques are commonly used: preventive and therapeutic. The preventive massage technique is aimed at stabilizing the pathological curvature. There are several types of preventive massage:
- Segmental – when specific points are massaged through which a stimulating effect on the functionality of organs is carried out;
- Reflex – aimed at stimulating the functions of the circulatory system in order to avoid muscular dystrophy.
The therapeutic massage technique is aimed at correcting the deformed spine in order to eliminate pathology. Massage therapy will be effective only in the case of course execution, and each course consists of at least 20 procedures and must be repeated every six months.
As a result of massage sessions, the work of the lymphatic and circulatory systems is corrected, which contributes to the acceleration of material exchange processes. There is an increase in blood supply, which contributes to the improvement of musculoskeletal activity.
With 1 degree of scoliotic deformity, massage is carried out in such a way as to eliminate excessive muscle tone from the side of the protrusion and to stimulate muscle tissue from the opposite side. Massage at 2 degrees of scoliotic deformity is usually prescribed by specialists after a course of exercise therapy, which prepares the muscles.
Remedial gymnastics for the spine
At the initial stages of the pathological scoliosis process, exercise therapy is considered the most effective therapeutic method. A correctly calculated gymnastic load contributes to the restoration of the muscle frame and provides a relaxing effect on hypertonic muscles.
The main rule that guarantees high efficiency of the exercises is to train the weakened muscles and stretch the tense ones. Regular physical education is not suitable here, since it can lead to a deterioration in the condition of the spine.
Patients with grade 1 deformity are shown exercise therapy aimed at strengthening spinal stability. At stage 2 of scoliosis, the emphasis is on the correction of pathological curvatures.
The whole set of exercises consists of three stages: warm-up, workout and the final stage. Warm-up involves performing rotational movements with the shoulders, walking in place and raising the arms up.
Basic training involves performing the following elements:
- Lying on your back on the floor with brushes on your shoulders, spread your elbows along the sides;
- Perform bent-leg lifts with knees pressed to the stomach;
- Lie on your stomach on the floor and lift your chest;
- In the same position, perform leg bends to the side where the lumbar bulge is directed;
- From a pose on all fours, extend the right leg and left arm, then, vice versa;
- Perform push-ups on all fours all the way with the chest to the floor.
This is only a part of the movements for acquaintance, a complete list of elements should be compiled by a specialist individually. At the final stage, movements are performed:
- They press their buttocks and shoulder blades tightly against the wall, without bending the lower back, and spread their arms to the sides, as if stretching in different directions;
- Lying with your back on the floor, put your hands behind your head, then place them along the body.
Yoga asanas are no less effective against scoliosis of the spine. Here are some common asanas:
- Lying with your back on the floor, the legs are placed on a stool, so lie down, relaxed;
- Perform belly breathing – when inhaling, raise it, and when exhaling, lower it;
- Lying down as in the first paragraph with legs on a chair, perform leg movements to the side.
Corsets and orthopedic mattresses
Wearing special corsets copes with spinal deformity quite effectively. The choice of a corset should be approached responsibly. Orthopedic corsets are made in accordance with the direction of bending and the degree of deformation.
To correct the first degree of scoliosis, support corsets or bandages are used.
At the second stage, wearing a corset with a corrective action is shown, so that not only the maintenance of the spine is performed, but also its correction.
A corset cannot be worn on a naked body, only on clothes, but it must be worn continuously, taking off only for an hour a day. During wearing, you should not lift heavy objects and avoid physical exertion.
Prices
Posture correctors have different costs – about 1.5-3.5 thousand rubles and more.
How to sleep properly with scoliosis?
For sleep, it is recommended to use special orthopedic mattresses so that the body is level during sleep. It is necessary to choose a position for sleeping in which you will be comfortable. Most importantly, with scoliosis, it is not recommended to sleep on your stomach.
Operation
If conservative therapy does not provide the desired results, and the disease progresses further, then a surgical solution to the problem is indicated. Such treatment is considered quite difficult, since it requires the surgeon to be highly accurate in every movement. The slightest mistake is fraught with the patient’s disability.
The essence of surgical treatment is the installation of metal devices that ensure the fixation of individual vertebrae in the correct position.
Adaptations are of a mobile and stationary nature. The first ones are used for young patients whose spine is still growing, and fixed metal structures are suitable for installation in adult patients.
Rehabilitation
After surgery, the spine becomes straight, but this position is considered an unusual position for the body, so it will take some time to adopt a new location of the spine. Postoperative rehabilitation lasts about a year and includes wearing corsets or bandages. For children, the rehabilitation period is six months.
Testimonials
Oleg:
For a long time he did not dare to carry out the operation, but the body was so distorted that there were heart problems, it became difficult to breathe, etc. After the installation of the metal structures, the unusually straight position of the body worried, but over time I got used to it. Now I live like a normal person and do what I love. All thanks to the operation.
Zinaida Petrovna:
I had grade 4 scoliosis. My daughter insisted that the operation be done, as her condition was getting worse. Of course, the operation is expensive, but worth it. After the treatment, my life became a joy, now I can move and live normally. Thank you for the operation.
Surgical cost
Surgical correction of scoliotic deformity is very expensive. Detailed prices should be found out directly at the surgical center providing such services.
Prevention measures
Compliance with preventive measures allows you to avoid the very dangerous consequences of scoliotic deformity. Daily therapeutic and gymnastic training allows you to avoid the development of scoliosis.
Perhaps the most famous is Petrov’s technique, which involves the implementation of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements. In addition, massage and physiotherapy procedures are indicated for the prevention of scoliosis.
Method reviews
Elena:
I have a scoliosis curvature of the 2nd degree. The doctor advised me to study according to the Petrov method. At first I thought that this man was an ordinary charlatan, but after several sessions with him, I radically changed my mind. Recently I had an X-ray, my scoliosis went to 1 degree. If this continues, I will soon get rid of him altogether.
Maria:
As a child, I had a curvature, but over time, the deformation process stopped until I got a job in an office. The work is seated, the posture is incorrect – as a result, the process started and developed to grade 2 scoliosis. Now I am doing daily workouts, there are improvements, but still insufficient, so I will continue exercise therapy until I completely get rid of scoliosis.
Which doctor should I go to?
The main treatment for scoliosis is orthopedics.