Scoliosis: OK or NOT conflicting info: Deadlifts, yoga twists (this is highly debated)

I am by no means a medical expert in any way shape or form. That being said, I have scoliosis and do both deadlifting and yoga.

There are certain yoga poses that I can do and tell it's hard on my back such as plow pose. Typically I will feel like my spine is decompressing and it's slightly painful for a few seconds until it subsides. I try to listen to my body as much as possible. The more I do these poses, even the ones that feel uncomfortable shortly after, the less uncomfortable they become for me. If the pain/discomfort lasts for more than three seconds after coming out of a pose, I stop. I also don't hold them for very long. Ease into it. I love doing spinal twists and have never had any pain with them.

As far as deadlifting, I do the same. I've lifted up to 135lb so far and haven't had any pain/discomfort with my back so I don't see why it's an issue as long as I'm using proper form.

robininfl wrote: »

This may be a question for your doctor, but both my daughter and her doctor have scoliosis and she (the daughter) was ok'd for and benefits from yoga; and I think the top deadlifter in the US in terms of weight compared to bodyweight has very very profound scoliosis. Lamar Grant.

Yoga I'd not stress about, there are plenty of modifications and stretching the back seems very positive. Just don't twist to the point of pain.

Deadlifts I'd ask the doctor, and start light.

Lamar Gant, yes. World-record holder and powerlifting hall of famer.



I'd still ask your doctor first.

I think it will depend entirely on the severity of your scoliosis and how it's affecting you individually.

I have no problems with deadlifts, but something simple like step ups on my "short" side are just shy of agonizing unless I'm verrrrrrrrry slow and deliberate and keep the weight light with them. Same for lunges.

I also have issues with strength imbalances with the upper half of my body with my "short" side being significantly weaker than my "tall" side. I tend to work more with dumbbells so as not to mask this. The barbell was only compounding the problem for me.

Yoga's not really my thing, but I do the butterfly pose every morning to help get the stiffness out of my lower back. That's about it.

DopeItUp wrote: »

robininfl wrote: »

This may be a question for your doctor, but both my daughter and her doctor have scoliosis and she (the daughter) was ok'd for and benefits from yoga; and I think the top deadlifter in the US in terms of weight compared to bodyweight has very very profound scoliosis. Lamar Grant.

Yoga I'd not stress about, there are plenty of modifications and stretching the back seems very positive. Just don't twist to the point of pain.

Deadlifts I'd ask the doctor, and start light.

Lamar Gant, yes. World-record holder and powerlifting hall of famer.



I'd still ask your doctor first.

Was about to come in and post this, and I'd already been beaten to it. As such, I'll offer this anecdote instead:

My ex-wife injured her back at work. Of course, the first thing the idiot doctor told her was to "avoid lifting anything that heavy again". She spent years with chronic back pain. I finally talked her into starting a deadlifting regimen. Within a couple of months, her back pain was gone, and she went on to win a powerlifting meet in her weight class, based largely on the strength of her deadlift.

What does that have to do with the OP? We found out later that she also had scoliosis that had gone undiagnosed for years. Due to her lifelong weight problem, the curvature was well hidden until she had gotten down into the 130s.

Moral of the story? Doctors can be morons too, and heavy deadlifts never killed anyone.

My curve is just <> short of being scoliosis, but for exercises I treat it as if it is.
Mine is in my lower back (right before the hips) and I found that Yoga and Pilates strengthen my core enough that the stress is eased off my curve.