Scoliosis and Exercise

pianoteacher30

I've just started my journey towards being stronger and fitter. Having reached my goal weight (119lbs) I started working out last week - 3 days using bodyweight exercises and 2 focusing on my abs.

Last week was fine - hard work, made me sweat and puff a bit, I could feel my muscles working, but fine! Today I tried the routine for my abs and all of it just seemed to put masses of pressure on my lower back. I couldn't really feel the muscles working I just had to keep stopping because of it.

I have scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and was wondering if this means I need to avoid certain types of exercise? Or if there are specific kinds of exercise I need to be looking at?

Thanks x

lisajtubs

I have a slight bit of scoliosis (nothing that you could notice in a fitted shirt) and i find that my back is better when i do a full range of core exercises, but more compound style ones (if that is the right phrase here) than isolation exercsies. I found that martial arts and boxing were amazing at streghtening my whole core and I dont really get back aches now. If I am slack with exercise I and have periods of time off, then I get get a lot of lower back aches. The only exercise which I have found to have any negative effect is running, but i still do it. It doesnt hurt my back, but very occassionaly feel achey afterwards and really need to stretch out the lower back muscles. That may not even be related. I guess as every bodies medical condition is different, it is best to check with a doc :-)

pianoteacher30

I think you're right it probably is best to ask my doctor. When I was diagnosed in my teens I remember being given exercises but it has never really caused me a problem before as I'm very sedentary!! I get the occasional bit of back ache from playing piano but I'm really serious about becoming fitter and exercising so I don't want to let this stop me.

Thanks for your reply x