If you’re familiar with scoliosis, you may know that it involves the abnormal curvature of the spine. Often resulting in body imbalances that cause pain, it is difficult to cure this condition, but worthwhile to focus on treatment of its symptoms. And while bracing and surgeries are common methods for treatment, in recent decades patients have been turning to massage therapy for managing their scoliosis. Not only is massage therapy less invasive than these other methods, but there are many benefits that massage can provide to people with scoliosis. Read on to find out more about this condition and how it can be managed through massage therapy. 

Types of Scoliosis 

While the result of scoliosis is abnormal curvature of the spine, the causes of scoliosis differ based on type. Additionally, cases can range from mild to severe, while the shape of the curves vary in degree, direction, and form from individual to individual. The two most common abnormal curvatures of scoliosis are in the form of an S or C-shape.  

One type of scoliosis is congenital, which means it is present from birth where the spinal bones develop abnormally while the baby is growing inside of the mother.  Another type of scoliosis is functional scoliosis. This means that the spine developed normally, but the curvature arises due to other problems in the body such as a leg length difference, injury, poor posture, or muscle spasms in the back. Neuromuscular scoliosis is commonly diagnosed in adolescents and children and is a type of scoliosis caused by muscle weakness or disease, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. 

Types of Massage Therapy for Treatment 

While the causes of scoliosis differ, massage therapy can be helpful for treating the pain symptoms of people with scoliosis. Effective massage treatments are:  

·       Deep Tissue Massage Therapy – This therapy uses intense pressure to target areas of pain, helping to stretch and relax tight muscles while improving circulation.  

·       Swedish Massage Therapy – This therapy uses light to medium pressure allowing for deep relaxation and relief from back pain, headaches, shallow breathing, and insomnia.  

·       Cranial-Sacral Therapy – This therapy is a very gentle type of massage therapy used to mobilize restricted tissue around the spine, allowing for improvement of overall mobility in the body, reduction of stress, and central nervous system functioning.  

Benefits of Massage Therapy for Scoliosis Patients 

If you’re looking to use some of these massage therapies for treatment of a scoliosis condition, some of the benefits that you can expect are: 

·       Increased Mobility – Massage therapy balances out the muscles of the back and spine, allowing for better mobility throughout the body. 

·       Enhancement of Body Awareness – Regular massage therapy cultivates a sense of body awareness helpful for functional scoliosis, which is dependent on posture and holding patterns. 

·       Improved Circulation – Massage therapy mobilizes tissues and increases blood flow allowing for greater flexibility and healing of the muscles. 

·       Relief from Stress – When your body hangs onto stress, tension builds up in the body, contributing to symptoms of pain. Massage therapy helps calm the mind and reduces muscle tension, giving you a better peace of mind.  

Now that you know how massage therapy is useful for managing scoliosis and the types of massage therapy that are effective, you may be interested in trying it out for yourself. And you can easily schedule a massage today online through Dreamclinic with one of our licensed massage therapists!