Can the Bar Method help scoliosis or fused vertebrae?

If you have scoliosis, your doctors have probably advised you to strengthen and stretch your muscles on a regular basis. This kind of exercise helps your condition by:

• strengthening your back muscles,
• increasing hip mobility so that you put less strain on your back, and
• reducing over-all stiffness. According to health experts, exercise not only makes moving around more comfortable but exerts no additional stress on either non-fused or fused spinal segments.

The Bar Method has been a successful exercise choice for many students with scioliosis over the years. During the exercises that call for back flexion the teacher can give you options that feel right for you. Don’t worry! You’ll still get the benefit of the exercises even while making these modifications:

1. In the lower back stretch sequence sitting under the bar (“round-back”) you can perform the exercise while lying down.

2. During the spinal twist stretch after “flat-back”, simply turn your head in each direction.

3. In the abdominal curl exercise, you can place two-to-five pieces of “foam” under your shoulders You’ll still feel your abs working, because your glutes are “tucking” them down.

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