Many people start looking into Pilates for Scoliosis after years of dealing with inconveniences that have piled up to daily discomfort. A shoulder sits higher than the other. A hip that feels uneven. A majority of people who live with Scoliosis deal with a case that’s mild enough to live with rather than treat surgically. This is where Pilates comes in. While Pilates will not straighten the curved spine, it can vastly improve the symptoms that living with the condition comes with. It can improve your posture, muscle balance, with enough consistent practice, your breathing capacity and bodily awareness. Because Pilates trains the deep postural muscles and works on both sides of the body independently, it can help address the imbalance a curve creates. In our article, we look at what scoliosis actually is, how it affects the body, and how Pilates can help when you have this condition.
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal side-to-side curve to your spine, as opposed to the natural slightly forward and backward curve. With it, your spine will curve to the left or right in a C or S shape. A majority of Scoliosis cases have no known cause; this is called idiopathic scoliosis. These cases are usually mild and don’t need treatment. However, severe cases of Scoliosis can cause uneven posture and pain to the point where wearing a brace or having surgery is necessary.
With Scoliosis, your body is divided in a concave side (inside the curve) and the convex side (outside of the curve). On the concave side, the muscles are constricted – short and tight. On the convex side, the muscles are longer, stretched, and weak. This creates a muscle imbalance. Over time, a person may feel chronic back or nerve pain because gravity compresses the misaligned spine over time. With an uneven spine, your body’s center of gravity also shifts, causing a person to learn more to one side. This can affect your posture and alter your spatial awareness, making your balance and gait feel uneven.
Since your body exists in an uneven shape, this can make your shoulders, waist, and hips sit at different heights. The twists in the spine can also cause ribcage distortion, creating a rib arch or back bulge. This can affect your breathing. With the lack of normal symmetry in the chest cavity, the lungs cannot expand evenly, therefore causing shallow breathing, muscle fatigue, and even lower endurance. However, through controlled and intentional movement, Pilates for Scoliosis can lengthen the constricted side of your body while strengthening the weak side.
Pilates is a form of exercise that uses intentional, low-impact movements to build core strength, and improve flexibility and range of motion. According to a 2024 study from the National Library of Medicine, Pilates exercises have a positive impact on spine deformities and posture. It can improve spinal curvature, posture, and mobility.
Depending on the severity of your Scoliosis, it can be safe to practice Pilates once you have your doctor’s consent. A certified Pilates instructor can modify movements to ensure you can practice safely and consistently.
As scoliosis is a structural condition, it cannot be ‘cured’ without surgery. However, with active practice, it can have its functionality and appearance be improved.
Pilates for Scoliosis improves muscular imbalance by targeting your deep muscles around your spine, hips, and pelvis. Having a strong core can help hold your torso straight and relieve one side of your body from working harder than the other. In Pilates, most exercises require you to use both sides of your body with the same level of control; this can help prevent the stronger side of your body from taking over during a movement and build up the weaker half of your body.
Learning to live well with Scoliosis living is a skill you can build. You do not need a straight spine to move well. What you need is a body that is strong on both sides, breathes fully, and knows where it is in a space. A consistent Pilates practice builds exactly that.
If you're interested in practicing Pilates for Scoliosis, visit our Pilates studio in Bangkok – Club Pilates. Call us at 02 286 1430 to reserve a class ahead of time. We're located just a short walk from Lumphini MRT station, on the 18th floor of the Grande Centre Point (WorkLab). We look forward to welcoming you and transforming your life for the better with intentional movement targeted to improve your pelvic health.