Gymnastics, exercise therapy and a set of therapeutic exercises for scoliosis

A bedridden patient has the following main risks of complications:

bedsores,
congestive pneumonia and pneumonia,
muscle contractures and muscle weakness

Therefore, an important component of any care for a bedridden patient is his activation in bed, including changing body position and feasible therapeutic exercises to restore motor functions, restore muscle tone and prevent contractures. For success, not only regularity of exercise is important, but also the correct selection of a set of exercises.

Diagnosis of scoliosis

Diagnosing scoliosis itself is not an easy task. It is necessary to undergo a number of procedures to make a correct diagnosis and treatment. For a traumatologist specializing in types of scoliosis, it is not enough to simply examine the patient, even with the help of computer equipment.

To diagnose scoliosis you need:

orthopedic examination;
conclusion of a neurologist to exclude nervous diseases;
accounting of metabolic processes;
accounting for congenital deformities.

The main method for diagnosing this disease is x-ray . One of the most accurate methods in the world. It allows you to monitor changes in the human spine. This is one of the cheapest, but also harmful ways to study the spine.

The second method after x-rays is photography . It helps evaluate changes in posture. The method is not the most accurate, but it is harmless.

Optical CT (computed tomography) is only suitable for teenagers. A scoliometer is similar in characteristics to a CT scan. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT do not provide a complete, high-quality picture of the disease, so it is best to undergo an x-ray.

WHY DOES YOUR BACK HURT?

Back pain is a sure sign of a problem with the spine.
But often patients make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment on their own without consulting a doctor. People habitually call any discomfort in the back osteochondrosis and begin to actively knead, massage the area of pain, and even go to the gym. According to many patients, exercise therapy is harmless. In fact, uncontrolled exercise therapy exercises for osteochondrosis can result in serious consequences and aggravate the problem. Pain can be a symptom of intercostal neuralgia, intervertebral hernia, and even a spinal fracture. And each case requires a special approach.

Unbalanced physical activity, with a violation of the execution technique, with an incorrectly selected load can lead to traumatization of already destroyed vertebrae, increase muscle spasm, block mobility, compress the nerve and cause a painful attack of acute pain.

Exercise therapy for any disease requires mandatory supervision by a specialist.

The effectiveness of physical therapy for scoliosis

Exercise therapy (therapeutic physical education) is the most effective procedure in the treatment of scoliosis, provided that it is carried out regularly, preferably daily. Exercise therapy and means of correcting posture are the most reliable friend in the fight against this disease. For different types of curvature, exercise therapy should be different. So, for scoliotic deformation, sports activity is prescribed, which can be easily performed at home. Its task is to gradually increase physical activity. Exercises for scoliosis at home will not be difficult and will take place in your own environment.

A serious illness is true scoliosis. These are deviations of the ridge to the side, asymmetry of the shoulder blades, curvature of the thoracic region. Careful selection of exercises, the opportunity to continue treatment in a special school, hospital or sanatorium.

What is the effectiveness of exercise therapy?

There is no need to take pills.
Exercise therapy (physical therapy) helps restore muscle strength and elasticity.
The work of the heart and lungs is activated.
The curvature of the angle of the spine slows down or stops.
The person feels cheerful.
Muscle fatigue is relieved.

Physical education is prescribed by the attending orthopedic doctor.

Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis

For osteochondrosis of any part of the spine, exercise therapy helps eliminate spasticity, restore blood circulation, and form the correct muscle corset that will maintain posture. It is important to correctly calculate the load and monitor the performance of each exercise. This should be done by a qualified rehabilitation physician.

Exercise therapy after treatment of osteochondrosis and during periods of remission is necessary for prevention purposes. Regular exercise therapy will relieve the load on the spine and prevent the development of complications.

Exercise therapy after treatment is prescribed to prevent relapse of the disease.

Principles of gymnastics for scoliosis

One of the key types of exercises for spinal scoliosis at home is gymnastics . It involves developing (improves physical development) and special (corrective) exercises. Let's consider the second type in detail. Their task is to form correct posture and correct spinal disorders.

Types of gymnastic exercises:

standing in front of a mirror;
maintaining correct posture while standing on a vertical plane;
working under the guidance of an instructor;
taking a massage course.

Gymnastics begins with unloading the spine. First, the type of starting position is selected. These are exercises that are performed while lying down. After a while, standing exercises are added.

Exercises for various degrees of scoliosis

Exercises for scoliosis at home are effective for any type of curvature. Excellent results are achieved at the initial stage of vertebral deformation.

What rules do you need to know to improve your back condition?

In the first stages of spinal deformity, you can still choose exercises on your own, but if the degree of curvature is 3-4, then consultation and prescription of an orthopedist is necessary.
It all starts with a small load, which then gradually increases.
If the patient feels discomfort, the exercise should be stopped immediately.
Regular lessons will lead to improvement.
Warm-up is a mandatory initial stage of therapeutic physical education.

WHEN IS IT RECOMMENDED TO START EXERCISES WITH CHILDREN?

Gymnastics and exercise therapy are indicated for children from 3 months of age, at the moment when children begin to roll over, crawl, sit up, and walk. Exercise therapy is, first of all, the prevention of muscle tone disorders (hypo- and hypertonicity), correction of posture, the key to the correct formation and optimal development of the musculoskeletal system.

Our center conducts exercise therapy classes for children together with training for parents, who subsequently work with the children on their own.

For children 5-6 years of age, children's physical education or gymnastics is necessary to strengthen their posture before school, because at school they will experience a decrease in physical activity with a simultaneous increase in the load on the spine.

Exercises in the first stage of scoliosis

Marching for a couple of minutes in one place.
Raising your toes and arms up.
Shoulder circular rotations forward and back (20 times).
Bend forward with arms (10 times).
Turn the body alternately to the right and left, arms to the sides (10 times each).
The man lies on his back. Hands up, toes pointing towards you, and stretches out slowly.
Pull your elbows towards opposite knees. The quantity is the same - 10 doses.
Alternately pull your knees towards your stomach.
Bicycle and scissors.
The situation does not change. The upper part of the body is raised, held for a while, and lowered.
The same exercise, but a little more complicated - the upper and lower limbs are stretched.
Position on your stomach - imitation of swimming.
The situation is the same. The upper body and legs are raised. The two parts close together to form a “basket”.
It all ends with walking around the room.

Exercises contraindicated at any stage of curvature!

You cannot hang on the horizontal bar and do pull-ups on it.
Somersaults are prohibited.
Do not lift heavy objects (barbells).
It is forbidden to make fast movements.
You can't do martial arts.
Running is also prohibited.

Restoring impaired functions of swallowing and drinking food and liquids

If you had an endotracheal tube inserted while you were hospitalized, you may have some difficulty swallowing food and liquids. This occurs due to possible weakening of the muscles used in swallowing. Good nutrition and drinking enough water/juices play a big role in your recovery.

Paying attention to the swallowing process is important to prevent choking and lung infections. The risk of such problems arises when, during the process of swallowing, food or drink does not enter the esophagus, but into the lungs.

If you are having difficulty swallowing, following the tips below may help you overcome them:

Sit up straight when you eat or drink. Never eat or drink while lying down.
Remain upright (sitting, standing, walking) for at least 30 minutes after eating.
Try foods of different consistencies (liquid, soft, hard, finely chopped, etc.) to find out which foods are easier for you to swallow. You may find it helpful to first choose soft, smooth and/or moist foods or cut hard foods into very small pieces.
Focus on the process of eating or drinking. Try to eat in a quiet place.
Take your time while eating. Take small bites of food and chew them thoroughly. You should drink in small portions between sips of food.
Do not put the next portion of food or drink into your mouth if you have not yet swallowed the previous portion. If there is food left in your mouth, swallow it first.

If the regular eating pattern of three meals a day has become difficult or tiring for you, you should reduce the amount of food you eat at one time, but increase the number of meals throughout the day.
If you begin to cough or experience shortness of breath while eating or drinking, take a break to rest and recuperate.

A healthy diet is essential to your recovery, especially if you are feeling weak or have been on a ventilator. Brush your teeth after every meal and avoid lack of water in your body. This will help maintain oral health.

If problems with eating and drinking persist for a long time, seek help from your doctor.

Exercises for stage 2 deformity

The purpose of such gymnastics is to correct existing curvatures, as well as strengthen the muscular frame of the back . Scoliosis of this degree is more difficult to treat than in the first stage. Gymnastics with this form of the disease takes more time. It is necessary to do exercise therapy 3-4 times a week for 40 minutes every day for 2 years. Regularity and diligence are the main components of progressive treatment.

Here is a set of exercises for this stage:

walking on all fours or with knees half bent in a circle;
lying on your side, you need to raise your leg up;
standing on all fours, bend over like a cat;
lying on your stomach, hands clasped behind your head, try to rise and bend as far as possible.

In the second stage, you can also perform the movements mentioned above. Don’t forget, exercises for spinal scoliosis at home should be performed strictly as prescribed by the doctor. They are prescribed to each patient individually.

Doctors recommend combining such exercises with wearing corsets, sleeping in plaster beds, and periodically visiting a massage therapist.

Treatment of 3rd and 4th degree scoliosis

This requires regular gymnastics with massage, a corset, and possibly even surgery. The orthopedic doctor individually, but always prescribes a set of therapeutic movements. Exercise therapy should be performed at least 3 times a week, and preferably more often. For children with a third degree of curvature, running, squats, somersaults, lifting weights, and outdoor games are contraindicated. Basically, the doctor prescribes exercises while lying down. If the angle of curvature exceeds 50 degrees, surgery is necessary.

Rules for the use of exercise therapy for scoliosis

Warm up first to warm up the muscles well.
A slight tempo is required.
Exercises exclude heavy objects (only the use of salt bags is allowed).
Start physical therapy exercises only after a doctor’s prescription.

The final part of the exercises

In this part you need to restore your breathing and measure your pulse. You can finish the complex with slow walking. A very good final exercise would be rolling. First you need to sit on the mat, bend your legs, and wrap your arms around it. Lying on your back, roll from side to side. You need to complete 8 approaches. This is a kind of massage for the ligaments and muscles of the spine. After stretching and warming up, the following exercise would be appropriate: standing on the mat, clasp your hands behind your back. Walking on your heels or on a special exercise machine will be very useful. Then walking on your heels changes to walking on your toes. Each exercise lasts up to 30 seconds.

After physical therapy exercises, it is advisable to rest. This can be done outdoors. There is no substitute for a few minutes of being outside. Fresh air will help restore strength and resume breathing.

The effectiveness of exercise depends on the intensity of the exercises. It is advisable to perform them every day for those whose degree of curvature has reached a critical point. Remember, your health is in your hands!

The spine is our main vital frame. Spinal diseases affect many organs, heart, and nerves.

Exercises for spinal scoliosis at home are simple and easy to remember.
Don't be lazy and do them more often! Be healthy!