Therapeutic exercises for scoliosis

An example of a set of exercises to treat scoliosis.
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The right exercises for scoliosis, five principles of therapeutic exercises

This article is sponsored by yourspine.ru.

No modern medications can do the work of physical therapy for scoliosis. Regular exercise helps:

• to restore the mobility and strength of the muscles, which they need for the formation of the muscular framework of the spine;
• to relieve pathological muscle tension;
• to stop the progression of the disease (increasing the angle of curvature of the spine);
• activation of the cardiovascular system; improvement of breathing;
• Reduction or complete elimination of lateral curvatures of the spine.

Therefore. Therapeutic exercises for scoliosis – the leading method of conservative treatment, It is recognized by orthopedists and spine specialists worldwide. The exercise sets are used as individual therapy to correct pathological curvatures of the spine in the early stages. They are always used as part of a comprehensive treatment of stage 3 and 4 scoliosis.

In the vast majority of cases, scoliosis develops during the child's intensive growth phase. During this time, all segments of the spine are very unstable, so physical handling of them should only be done professionally and with extreme caution. Otherwise, serious damage can occur: aggravation of the angle of curvature, entrapment of internal organs, disruption of the heart or respiratory organs.

To benefit from the exercises, they should be tailored to the region of the spine where the pathology is present. They should be performed regularly and the instructor should teach the technique.

Read more: four types of exercises for scoliosis, the five most effective exercises for the treatment of pathology from Swiss spine surgeons.

Five rules for therapeutic exercises

It is important that gymnastics for scoliosis meets five specific requirements that must be taken into account when compiling the therapeutic complex.

1. The most important of these is the exclusion of any type of exercises that can aggravate the spine:

• Pull-ups and hanging on the horizontal bar or wall bars;
• Elements of acrobatics: somersaults, jumps, swallowing exercises;
• strength training with weights and dumbbells;
• fast running;
• jumps of all kinds;
• Torso rotations in an upright position.

1. The first exercises should be performed at a slow pace. Always pay attention to how the body reacts to the individual exercises.
2. The load and number of repetitions should be increased gradually so as not to overload the muscles and spine.
3. Exercises should be designed for passive traction of the spine only.
4. Regularly alternate exercises for the shoulder girdle muscles with exercises for the lumbar spine and legs.

All exercises prescribed by the doctor for scoliosis should be performed daily and without breaks. After the exercises you should always rest on your side for half an hour.

Physiotherapy for children is recommended for the following diseases:

• Lung infection;
• Congenital torticollis;
• hip dysplasia;
• Rheumatism;
• bronchial asthma;
• postural defects;
• clubfoot;
• clubfoot;
• Rickets;
• CEREBRAL PALSY.

It is important to start an exercise complex at a young age. If the disease remains untreated, the child will lag behind in its development and functional impairments may occur. After physiotherapeutic treatment, the child's metabolism will improve, misalignments of the musculoskeletal system, growth and development delays will be prevented. Proper technique and timely action can both improve the prognosis and reverse the diagnosis.

LFC in children is characterized by special features. A common feature is the large number of playful exercises. The programs are based on age and diagnosis, but also take into account the child's level of development as well as their mental and motor skills.

Differences in exercise therapy for children at different ages

For children under one year old

An infant's first year of life requires more physical exercise than that of an adult. Exercise is very important for the child. Exercise is good for the child's physical and mental health. With regular exercise, children learn motor and language skills in a timely manner and develop properly.

Classes are essential for premature babies, sedentary children, children with reduced appetite, nervous excitability and after illnesses. Remedial gymnastics is more suitable for children with physical or mental disabilities.

1. Physiotherapy for children in the first year of life consists of reflexive, passive and active exercises.These are movements that the child carries out in response to external stimuli, so-called reflex exercises. These movements are not carried out consciously. When the teacher performs the exercises for the child, they are called passive exercises. If you do them yourself, they are called active exercises. LFC is often supplemented by massaging the child.
2. At 1.5 to 3 months of age, babies have increased muscle tone and innate reflexes. Therefore, only reflex exercises are recommended at this age.
3. By the age of 3 to 4 months, the muscle tone of the flexor and extensor muscles of the arms is equalized. It is recommended to emphasize passive exercises for infants.
4. Between 4 and 5 months, the baby's leg and neck muscles are trained. The exercises are different for this age.
5. Between 6 and 9 months of age, the baby develops voluntary movements. Therefore, physical exercise includes active exercises that promote crawling, sitting and standing.
6. At 9 to 12 months of age, coordinated movements and the desire to walk are developed. The LFC aims to develop and consolidate these skills.

Features of therapeutic measures

It is important that any form of clubfoot is treated as the deformity can only worsen with age. If the disease is congenital, the child is usually put in a special plaster cast with which he or she has to walk for several months. As a rule, the deformation should be completely eliminated after this treatment. However, if the defect is still present, the feet will be put in a new cast.

Younger children receive a cast for 5-7 days and older children for 2-4 weeks, depending on the development of the clubfoot. When wearing such a bandage When wearing such a bandage, the following rules must be observed:

The plaster cast must not get wet as it loses its hardness when it comes into contact with water. It then becomes loose and falls apart. Simply wrap the foot in a cellophane bag before bathing. It's best to keep him afloat throughout the entire bath. Place a diaper or towel over them while sleeping to prevent the pads from rubbing together.

Parents should be aware that they cannot leave their child without a patch for a long period of time - any delay could mean that all previous efforts have been in vain. The clubfoot returns to its old stage. There are cases when a child cannot be fitted with a cast due to a skin disease. In this case, doctors use a bandage.

In rare cases, a shoe made of mats is also used. Such a shoe must be worn by the child for several years. Even after complete recovery, the child should sleep in them as a preventive measure.

Important: A child with this condition can only wear normal shoes from the age of eight. Before this age, a special orthopedic shoe should be purchased.

Important points.

A set of exercises and therapeutic measures for the child will help correct clubfoot gait. When looking at the footprints, pay attention to their location. In a healthy person, the footprints are clear and parallel. With a club foot, on the other hand, there are no uniform footprints. Treatment of the disease should be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician. He determines the correct and comprehensive treatment.

Warning!!! A child who undergoes special physical training has a greater chance of successful foot correction.

Physiotherapy is of great importance for this disorder, as the exercises help to strengthen the muscles of the organ and normalize their tone. If parents start treatment at an early stage of the disease, it is possible to completely eliminate the foot deformity. In addition to health measures, the child should be offered special massages. Before taking comprehensive measures, a doctor should be consulted.

Scoliosis therapy

A spinal deformity that occurs after trauma, occurs during life, or develops during prenatal development is called scoliosis. This is a deformation of the spine as the body grows. In most cases, the cause of scoliosis cannot be determined. Certain factors contribute to the development of the disease: bone diseases, connective tissue diseases, trauma, surgical procedures, neuromuscular diseases and congenital vertebral deformities. Scoliosis most commonly occurs in girls. Yusupov Hospital provides rehabilitation services for patients with scoliosis, including children with spinal deformities. In the diagnostic center of the hospital, examinations of the spine are carried out: X-rays of the spine in cross section, X-rays of the spine with functional tests, MRI and CT scans. The doctor prescribes a series of physical exercises, physiotherapy treatments and massages. Swimming lessons are also recommended for scoliosis.

Therapeutic exercises for scoliosis

• Relaxes muscle tension;
• A muscular spine is formed, which helps keep the spine in the correct position;
• The progression of the disease is stopped;
• Depending on the severity of the disease, therapeutic exercises reduce the lateral curvature of the spine or eliminate it completely.

Physical therapy for scoliosis is not a panacea, but it significantly increases the patient's chances of improving his spinal condition and recovery. Comprehensive treatment of scoliosis with physical therapy, physiotherapy, massage, breathing exercises and other methods makes the treatment very effective. The duration of treatment depends on the patient's age: the recovery time in adults is longer, while scoliosis in children is treated most effectively.

Incorrectly performed or poorly chosen physiotherapy exercises can be harmful to the patient. Therapy with the LFC method should be started in a medical institution under the supervision of an instructor; Depending on the condition of the spine and concomitant diseases, a set of exercises should be selected for each patient. A number of principles apply to the LFC method:

• Exercises with aggressive movements are not allowed: jumping jacks, somersaults, running, pulling up on a bar or rope, turning the body sideways while standing. Training with dumbbells is not recommended;
• Exercises should be performed gradually, with a gradual increase in effort and duration;
• Exercises should begin with a warm-up period, followed by the main part of the physiotherapy program, ending with stable breathing and a gradual reduction in load;
• The exercises should not be accompanied by pain or strong negative sensations. If painful sensations occur, the patient should inform the doctor, and the physiotherapist will correct the exercises, reduce the physical load or replace the exercises.

How does physiotherapy help with clubfoot?

For any foot defect, exercise therapy is one of the most important elements of successful treatment. If it is a minor abnormality, they can effectively correct the problem as they are equivalent to treatments such as physiotherapy or massage. If you have had surgery, physical therapy can help you quickly regain your ability to walk and improve your posture when walking without a cast.

For children, it is not advisable to train yourself as it may not be very helpful. A special trainer should be hired here. Even over time, parents should master all the skills, because the training will take place daily, and if you always hire a specialist, it will be too expensive.

Danger!!! The exercises should be individualized for each child, depending on the level of disability and the patient's age. When it is time to move on to other exercises, this decision is made solely by the trauma therapist.

The main goal of clubfoot physiotherapy is to train the atonic muscles and relieve the contracture. To be successful, you should exercise at least three times a day.

What gymnastics is used for babies

If a baby is born with clubfoot, sooner or later parents will have to do therapeutic gymnastics themselves. But before this happens, the child is only taught by a specialist in order to lay the right foundations for a full recovery and make the treatment as effective as possible.

All exercises should be combined with massaging movements. These are positioned as passive exercises, but the benefits are just as invaluable as the other treatments. The key features of physical therapy for clubfoot include the following:

1. Each series of exercises should only be performed after a warm-up treatment.
2. The exercises should not cause negativity or irritability in the child.
3. It is important to feel the line between possible harm and benefit, which sometimes requires some effort.
4. At the beginning, all exercises should be gentle and mild.

For successful recovery, shortened ligaments and muscle groups should be stretched to avoid hypertonicity and a slight vibration is created using stroking and tapping.

In this way, the trainee works on the feet for at least 6-8 minutes. Each exercise should be repeated about 11-12 times for each foot. Before LFC, the baby should be placed belly up on a changing table. To warm up, alternately bend your knees and then bend your legs at the same time, then raise them up and down to an upright 90° position.

Preventive exercises

Prophylactic exercises for spinal osteochondrosis, performed at home, help prevent pain with a sedentary lifestyle and improve concentration and alertness.

1. Self-massage. Regularly knead the cervical or lumbar spine with your hands using circular pressing movements.
2. While sitting or standing upright, raise and lower your arms, bringing them closer together and pulling them apart again. Do this exercise 10 times.
3. While sitting, immobilize your knees and pelvis and rotate them in different directions, trying to turn as far as possible towards the thoracic spine. 10-15 times.
4. Lie on your back, put your hands behind your head and alternately lift your straight legs. 15 times.

Back exercises for osteochondrosis at home do not take much time and will save you from back pain.

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Forms of clubfoot

Clubfoot can be congenital or acquired. Depending on the ability to move the ankle, clubfoot can be divided into 3 categories: mild, moderate and severe. There are congenital and acquired, varus and valgus forms of clubfoot. In the varus form the foot points inwards, while in the valgus form it points outwards.

Congenital clubfoot is more common on both sides and usually occurs in boys. It occurs as a typical form (primary, independent) and as a secondary form (as a symptom of a disease). Causes:

1. Mechanical - the foot is subjected to mechanical compression in utero: pressure of the umbilical cord on the wrapped foot, lack of water, compression of the foot by ligaments, septum in utero, tumors. Clubfoot often forms in large babies and twins that were contracted together in utero.
2. Hereditary – the anomaly is inherited.
3. Pathology of the central nervous system.
4. Exposure to adverse factors during pregnancy. Increases the risk of congenital clubfoot, as well as any other congenital pathology, if the pregnant woman smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol and drugs, was exposed to toxic substances.
5. Dysplasia is an abnormality in the development of the muscular, vascular and skeletal systems.

Acquired clubfoot occurs when a child is born healthy and after some time develops a clubfoot. The congenital form is caused by:

• Injuries to the foot and lower leg (torn ligaments, fractures that do not heal properly);
• burns on feet;
• disorders of the nervous system;
• Bone and joint diseases – tumors, arthritis, arthrosis;
• Overweight – increased stress on the foot;
• Wearing the wrong shoes.

How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis is not difficult for the doctor. The condition is diagnosed by the neonatologist at birth or during examination by an orthopedist. Severe forms of congenital clubfoot are visible on ultrasound in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. X-rays are not used for diagnosis because of their limited significance. Sometimes the parents themselves notice that the baby's feet have an abnormal position: the foot is bent at the sole, directed inward and downward, and the heel is pulled up. Clubfoot changes the child's gait and limits ankle mobility, and the foot is small. Another symptom of clubfoot is a transverse groove in the sole (Adams groove). A characteristic symptom is the rapid formation of fog. A limp develops in the case of a one-sided clubfoot.

Alternative methods

Today there are many other ways to strengthen the back muscles and prevent the development of pathological changes in the spine. This includes:

Qigong

It is based on Chinese alternative medicine and is a holistic system that includes body therapy, breathing exercises and meditation. Qigong means 'flow and movement'. The method therefore represents a certain philosophy. It promises quick recovery from injuries, elimination of back pain and better mobility.

Tibetan gymnastics

The method includes comprehensive exercises that can be used for various spinal problems. They strengthen the entire body and are based on muscle stretching techniques.

It usually takes about 15 minutes to complete the entire series of exercises. This strengthens joints, improves blood circulation and relieves back pain.

V method. Dikula

This method was developed by Valentin Dikul, who, as an athlete, suffered a compression fracture of the spine in his youth and went through a long and difficult recovery period. During this time, he tried numerous physiotherapeutic methods and developed his own method of eliminating spinal deformities and improving the condition of patients with osteochondrosis and intervertebral fractures.

Additional recommendations

It is important to understand that LFC is only part of the treatment for spinal disorders. It is not possible to eliminate osteochondrosis, scoliosis or other pathologies with physiotherapy alone. Exercise must therefore be supplemented with medication and manual therapy.

While the former helps eliminate pain, inflammation and muscle spasms, the latter helps return the spine to its correct position. This not only eliminates back pain, but also significantly improves the function of the internal organs. The condition of the spine largely determines the correct conduction of nerve impulses from the spinal cord to all parts of the body.

Swimming and water aerobics are also recommended to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. In addition, it is important to monitor daily activity and lifestyle. To ensure that all efforts are not in vain, you should:

• Avoid lifting weights; if this is not possible, bend your knees to lift a heavy object, grab it and lift it using the strength of your legs instead of your back;
• minimize the time you spend in high heels;
• Wear high-quality running shoes with good cushioning;
• Avoid colds and cold-related illnesses
• Take regular long walks;
• Get up regularly, warm up, or walk for at least 5 minutes if your job requires sitting for long periods of time;
• See your doctor if your condition worsens.

Physiotherapy is therefore an effective means of preventing the development of spinal diseases and an important part of the treatment of existing diseases.

What is LFC?

Physiotherapy is an essential part of the treatment and prevention of many diseases. (Often in combination with massages and physiotherapy, appropriately selected physical exercises help to restore health and functionality.

When selecting exercises, the pathogenesis, etiology, clinical features, functional status and overall capacity are taken into account; this is the difference to conventional exercises. It is also important to use an accurate dosage, which depends on the diagnosis and the patient's body, as individual values may differ from the average.

Some people find it difficult to lift 1 kg, while others can easily lift 50 kg. For one person, a 200 m run is a marathon, for another, a marathon may seem like an element of physiotherapy. For this reason a series of exercises is selected by a doctor.For this reason, physiotherapy can also be carried out at home, provided the recommendations are followed.

• Eliminate imbalances in ligaments and muscles;
• Relieving the spine of excessive stress;
• correction of posture;
• strengthening the spinal muscles;
• Overall healing effect on the body.

Some exercises to strengthen your back and relieve back pain

Before starting therapy, ligaments and muscles should be warmed up, exercises should be performed at a slow pace, without sudden movements, jumps or acrobatic elements. Heavy weights are excluded, dumbbells and barbells are not used, and the type of scoliosis is taken into account when choosing the complex.

Indications for therapeutic exercises

therapeutic exercises Can be done at any age.They are suitable for a wide range of conditions.

• Department of Internal Medicine;
• neurosurgery, neurology;
• obstetrics and gynecology;
• orthopedics, traumatology;
• postoperative procedures on internal organs;
• Psychiatry;
• paediatrics
• Phthiology
• ophthalmology (for uncomplicated myopia);
• Oncology.

contraindications

The list of contraindications is not long and includes the initial phase of an acute disease or exacerbations of chronic forms.

Read about absolute contraindications to physical therapy Absolute contraindications.:

• Severe patient condition;
• Acute forms of chronic diseases;
• Fever;
• severe pain of any origin (except phantom pain);
• Bleeding or risk of bleeding due to increased exercise;
• Symptoms of intoxication (leukocytosis, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, malaise);
• conservative treatment of malignant tumors.

In addition to absolute contraindications, there are diseases that require restrictions in the use of physical therapy.

• Cardiovascular diseases (absence of cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, chronic myocarditis);
• Respiratory diseases (bronchial asthma, atherosclerosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema);
• Gastrointestinal diseases (stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis);
• Metabolic diseases (obesity, diabetes must be monitored by an endocrinologist);
• Diseases of the nervous system (organic and functional disorders of the central nervous system);
• Eye diseases (scleroplastic surgery, moderate to high myopia, risk of retinal detachment) – no jumping jacks, jumping jacks allowed;
• Spinal disorders – no twists or jumps.

• Clubfoot in children therapeutic exercises 7 years old.
• Exercises for the varus leg deformity.
• Exercises for the triceps tibialis muscle.
• How to correct a clubfoot in a child.
• Why does a child develop clubfoot?.
• baby splashing.
• What is clubfoot?.
• Photo of scraped feet.