What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis refers to an abnormal curvature of the spine, often resembling an "S" or "C" shape. There are varying degrees of scoliosis, from mild curves that are barely noticeable, to more significant ones that may require medical intervention. Most cases are classified as mild scoliosis, where the spinal curvature is less than 20 degrees, and these cases rarely require surgery.

More significant structural changes—when the curvature exceeds 40-50 degrees—may need a specialized medical team to monitor and manage the condition. In extreme cases, surgical intervention may be required to correct the curve and prevent further complications. But the majority of people with scoliosis have a mild or moderate form, which can often be managed with non-invasive treatments and a healthy lifestyle.

Mild Scoliosis: Not a Life Sentence
For those with mild scoliosis, it’s important to understand that this condition is not a life sentence. Living well and functioning normally is very achievable, even with scoliosis. However, due to the structural changes in the spine, it’s not uncommon to experience muscular compensation and pressure build-up around the affected areas.

Muscle tension can develop as the body tries to adapt to the altered spinal alignment. This may lead to discomfort, stiffness, or even pain, especially after prolonged periods of sitting or standing. But this doesn’t mean you can’t live a full, active life. With proper management, you can reduce these symptoms and continue to do the activities you love.

How Myotherapy Can Help
If you’re experiencing discomfort from scoliosis, Myotherapy is an excellent treatment option to help manage the muscle tension and pressure associated with the condition. Myotherapy focuses on treating the muscles and soft tissues that support the spine, which can often become tight or overworked due to scoliosis.
Here are some ways Myotherapy can help:

• Hands-on therapies like massage and myofascial release help to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and alleviate the pressure that builds up around the curved area of the spine.
• Dry needling targets trigger points in the muscles, helping to release tightness and reduce pain.
• Cupping is another technique that increases blood flow and releases fascial restrictions, helping to ease muscular discomfort.
• Exercise programs prescribed by a Myotherapist can help strengthen the muscles supporting the spine, improving posture and reducing the risk of further compensation.

Consistency with treatment and exercises can significantly reduce the impact of discomfort caused by scoliosis, allowing you to live without constant pain and maintain a high level of activity.

High Achievers with Scoliosis
If you’re concerned about scoliosis limiting your potential, it’s reassuring to know that many high achievers have lived successfully with the condition. Elite athletes, Olympians, and even celebrities have scoliosis and continue to excel in their respective fields. Did you know these top performers have scoliosis?
Usain Bolt – Olympic Gold Medalist, World Record Holder. Known as the fastest man in the world, Bolt has won 8 Olympic gold medals and holds the world record in the 100m and 200m sprints.
Natalie Coughlin – Olympic Swimmer. Coughlin is a 12-time Olympic medalist in swimming, known for her excellence in backstroke and individual medley events.
Elizabeth Taylor – Iconic Actress. A Hollywood legend, Taylor won two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in "Butterfield 8" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".
Lamar Gant – Powerlifting World Champion. Gant became a five-time World Powerlifting Champion and set multiple world records in deadlifting, despite his scoliosis.​
Sarah Michelle Gellar – Actress. Best known for her role in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", Gellar became a pop culture icon and has won multiple Teen Choice Awards for her work in film and television.
Daria Gavrilova – Professional Tennis Player. Gavrilova has achieved Top 20 WTA rankings and represented Australia in major international competitions despite living with scoliosis.

Challenges of Living with Scoliosis
While it’s certainly possible to live normally with scoliosis, it’s also important to acknowledge that the condition can present some challenges. You may find that certain activities, particularly those that involve repetitive strain or heavy lifting, can cause discomfort, especially if you aren't actively conditioning your body to maintain those kinds of activities. It’s crucial to listen to your body and avoid activities that put excessive strain on your spine or muscles.
However, maintaining an active lifestyle is key to managing scoliosis. Regular physical care, such as engaging in stretching and strengthening exercises, attending Myotherapy sessions, and staying mindful of the amount of time you spend in certain positions and postures, will help you stay mobile and reduce discomfort.

Living Well with Scoliosis
Scoliosis doesn’t have to prevent you from living a normal, fulfilling life. Whether you have a mild or moderate curvature, managing the condition through regular physical care, hands-on therapies, and staying active will allow you to overcome many of the challenges associated with scoliosis. By addressing muscle tension and imbalances with treatments like Myotherapy, you can live comfortably without resorting to surgery or more invasive interventions.
Remember, scoliosis is a condition you can live with—and thrive despite it. The key is understanding your body’s needs, working with qualified professionals like Myotherapists, and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle to support your spine and overall well-being.

Our therapists can help you with regular musculoskeletal care, and programming exercises that are suitable for you at any stage of fitness to help you stay as mobile and active as possible.
Book online for your first consultation with our great team!

Our Myotherapists help a lot of people with scoliosis of varying degrees, from very mild curves to more exaggerated curves that permanently alter posture.

Myotherapy is not a cure for scoliosis, but ask any of our patients and they'll agree that managing the pain and muscle fatigue is much easier with a regular treatment to help manually decrease the load and pressure on their spine.

What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine to the right or left, creating a C or S shaped spine. It usually begins at puberty during growth spurts. Most people with scoliosis will have mild symptoms that can be managed by staying active and using therapies and tools that manage muscle tension and discomfort.

What do Myotherapists do to help someone with scoliosis?
As always, we start with an assessment. We'll look at your back, and how you move and check where you feel pain during your movement. You'll probably notice you have regular patterns that your scoliosis follows - like one hip or shoulder sitting higher than the other, one shoulder that rolls forward or backward more, or a particular painful spot that gets really tight or feels like it builds up pressure.

Hands on massage treatment is always a favourite with our patients. Why? It feels good! And it helps to stimulate the over-tired muscles supporting the spine. This can help reduce the muscle tension and fatigue, and let those high-pressure areas feel some relief.

Cupping is a technique that works particularly well for a lot of our scoliosis patients. We use cupping to help get a quick change in muscle tightness and reduce trigger point areas, while also bringing lots of new, fresh blood to the muscles to help them heal and release. The cups have a pressure valve and a pump that we use to create the gentle suction effect, which stretches the muscles and connective tissue under and around each cup, and stimulates increased bloodflow to that area. They can feel a little pinchy at first especially over tight areas, but after a few minutes that feeling usually goes away, and when the suction is broken the pressure releases and leaves the muscles feeling warm, stretched and more mobile.

The relief that comes after a treatment can be extended by using taping to help support your spine, hips and shoulders. Did you know you can keep the tape on for up to a week?

How often do I need to see a Myotherapist?
When you first come in, we like to see you again within 1-2 weeks to see how your first treatment settles in. From there we can work out the best schedule for you to keep painful flare ups at bay. This is really different person to person, but the average is about every 2-4 weeks - for some people we spend a little longer doing weekly treatments until it starts lasting longer, and for some people we can move to a 6-8 week schedule.

If you experience a pain flare up, come in for an appointment so we can settle the flare as quickly as possible and get you back to your normal maintenance routine.

How do I get an appointment?
Appointments can be made online or you can phone Mel on 0401212934.