Scoliosis and soccer

If you suffer from scoliosis, soccer may be a good sport for you to play. But, the severity of your scoliosis does matter. If you have mild scoliosis then soccer is not discouraged. On the contrary, it is actually encouraged, However, for moderate to severe cases of scoliosis you should consult with your doctor prior to taking up the sport. Playing soccer and scoliosis has not been proven to reduce or exacerbate the curvature of the spine. If you have a mild case of scoliosis, soccer is generally recommended because it is a good aerobic sport that strengthens core muscles. For scoliosis patients, core muscle strength is important as it works to stabilize your spine. Strong core muscles can help mitigate curve progression as well as degenerative conditions of the spine.

What would be the best position to play? I would say all are fine except for the goalie, since there can be some trauma incurred in this position. When one has scoliosis it is generally observed that their thoracic spine becomes flatter (hypokyphotic). This can be a problem because the more one of the dimensions of the spine goes out of its natural position the more the other dimensions move out of their natural position to compensate.

In a study done: Adolescent soccer is correlated with an increase of kyphosis but a reduction of low back pain: a controlled cross-sectional surveyS Negrini*, F Zaina, S Atanasio, C Fusco and M Taiana It was found that when someone plays soccer it can increase a persons thoracic kyphosis this would be a good thing for scoliotic spines with a hypokyphosis which usually is the case. In rare circumstances, when a person has a thoracic scoliosis they have a hyperkyphosis then soccer might not be the best sport to play. To be safe, consult with your doctor before starting any sport. Remember, soccer and scoliosis, may be a good combination for some.

Small curves

Hey guys, I just want to speak a little to those whose curve is less than 20 degrees. Not everyone is as simple minded as those who attack you because your in a better situation than they are. Regardless, of the fact that your curve is so small does not mean that you do not experience back pain, and it also if you are insecure about your body you have all right to your feeling. Straight back people are insecure about their bodies too but that doesn’t mean that they’re wrong for it.

My little brother has scoliosis and the day I found out I wanted to cry because I would have rather to be the only one in the family to have scoliosis. I know the pain and the insecurities he will have. When we first found out his curve was only 7 degrees and within 6 month it jumped to 48 degrees. Not because someone’s curve is much smaller don’t mean that they should not be informed on what its like to have it much worse, or even to ask question so in case if it do get worse they will have an idea on how to handle things. So for those whose curve is worse why not help them out and give them words of encouragement rather than trying to tear them down.

You’re mad because her curve is only 8 degrees, and you’re bashing her. But God forbid in a couple months it jumps to a 60 degree curve then you’re going to want to be her friend and give words of encouragement. At that point I hope these lovely ladies tell you where to put it. You don’t know how bad or good a person’s situation will and can be. So you should be nice and encouraging to everyone.

Amen!!!! I'm just happy i'm not the only one seeing this nonsense. We're here to support each other and not tear down others.

scoliotic-mind:

So I’ve went searching on the Scoliosis tag today, and I saw a lot of people complaining about how “people with spinal curves under 10 degrees should shut up” and I think this that’s really rude and inconsiderate. Yes, a curve under 10 degrees is not Scoliosis, but it doesn’t mean people can’t ask…

Small curve VS. Moderate & Severe curve

I just want to address something that has been bothering me. I have been seeing and also hearing people who have a moderate curve (between 25-70 degree curve), and people with severe curve (over 70 degrees) attack and complain about people who have a mild curve (less than 20 degrees). You guys got to get over yourself and stop it. Whether someone has a 8 degree curve or 5 degree, who cares. Why do you feel it necessary to bash them on how they feel about their scoliosis. It’s their scoliosis, their curve, their the ones who feel the pain. And yes, they should feel grateful because their curve is not as bad as yours. But that will not stop them from feeling insecure. And shame on all those who have worse curve than others and their attacking them because their curve is smaller and they don’t feel like they should complain. Everyone has their own voice and opinion for a reason and if they feel like voicing it, they are no way at fault. Don’t be bitter, or jealous, let them be free to express themselves without being judge. You’re probably looking at them wishing that you could have their spine instead of yours. Everyone with scoliosis has dealt with insecurities, you hate the way your hips look, your shoulder, your ribs, you walk funny, when you dance you look weird, you can’t wear the outfits your really like but you have to conform to other things that will not show the scoliosis issue that your dealing with. Some of us deal with the criticism from people who may not know what scoliosis is, and just think that your weird, and why does your body look that way. It also gets annoying when the people who may know about it say, stand up straight, why are u walking like that, stop leaning to one side. If there are these people out there, then why are you guys criticizing your fellow scolio’s, I just don’t get it.

There are people who have a moderate curve like me and I can complain if I feel like. Yeah, my hips might be uneven, my shoulder might slightly be off a bit. There are a lot of people who say they don’t see what I see, and its all in my head, and my scoliosis is not that bad. I know that my scoliosis is not bad because there are so much other people out there that’s worse than me, and maybe why people can’t see it is because I’m DAMN good with masking it. But I have some crazy back pains, RIGHT now I’m having an intense pain on the left side of my back, something is going on with the nerve there because I feel the pain tingling down my left leg and it’s slowly getting numb. Now who’s going to come attack me and say I shouldn’t feel no way about my scoliosis because it’s not THAT BAD!

There are so many people who have scoliosis worse than I do and I am fully grateful that my curve is not as bad as theirs. BUT, that does not make my situation the way how I feel about my body, my curve, and the pain any less important than someone who has a double curve or someone who has one curve but its 10 degrees higher, better than me.

And for those who have smaller curves, don’t make other scolio’s make you feel any less of a person because their curve is so much worse and they had surgery, or they didn’t have surgery because they can’t afford it. WHO CARES, the common denominator here is that we all deal with having scoliosis. Whether the degree of the curve is small, large, or you have a double curve, we should all be there to support each other and not gang up on those whose curve is smaller and they might have less problems than others.

We all want one thing, a straighter spine with no pain.

Scoliosis and texting

Why is texting bad you ask? Texting per se is not the problem. The problem lies in the posture you assume when texting - forward flexed position; head bent forward; forward head posture.

Texting (Poor posture) + Scoliosis = TROUBLE.

Texting and Scoliosis leads to increased:

Compression to the blood vessels to the spinal cord
Length of the spinal cord due to the head being forward and forward flexed
Pressure to the front portion of the spinal cord
Risk of demyelination (damage to the spinal cord)
Risk of degeneration to the dura mater
Compression to the subarchnoid space
Texting and Scoliosis may also lead to decreased cross sectional area of the spinal cord.

So why is this important? Scoliosis is believed to have a significant genetic component. If you are predisposed to Scoliosis because of your genes it is prudent to know about environmental scoliosis triggers or environmental factors that exacerbate scoliosis and avoid them. Doing so mitigates your risk of developing Scoliosis and/or mitigates risk of scoliosis progression.

The spine is a 3 dimensional object. When looking at a scoliotic spine you must look at all 3 dimensions so not only the spinal cord but the sagital spine as well. As noted above, texting and scoliosis, creates havoc to the sagital spine and spinal cord. Damage to the sagital and spinal cord may very well bring on scoliosis if you are genetically predisposed to scoliosis.

So how do we avoid this? Simple…take the cell phones/texting devices away from your children. Impossible? Then, ensure you educate your child on proper posture when texting and the consequences of not heeding your advice. The correct posture is:

1. Maintain head in an upright / forward position

2. Raise hands to hold cell-phone at eye level (no lower)

3. Use SIRI function of iphone to ‘talk’ rather than text

But, if they must (still) text. Then, consider spinal molding. To do this at home, get a cervical roll and have your child lie on it (neck rests on roll) as child texts

written by Clayton Stitzel

Thank you, i really appreciate the time you took to send me this message and im so glad that i have helped you. When i started this blog that was what i set out to do, and it makes me very happy

God is always with you

Our own fears and insecurities can make us feel that we are beyond help, beyond hope. Know that there is no place that far and that God is always with you.

Our scars remind us that the past is real

An Essential Guide for Scoliosis and a Healthy Pregnancy: Month-by-month, everything you need to know about taking care of your spine and baby.

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Scoliosis-Healthy-Pregnancy-Month-/dp/9810718101

Next time you think of wonderful things, please don’t forget to think of yourself.