Daily 'Yoga Pose' to Reduce Spine Problem in Adolescents

A basic yoga pose, done for 90 seconds a day, six days a week for two months, can reduce idiopathic scoliosis curves by 32 percent for adolescent and adult patients, reveals a new research. Vasisthasana, a type of side plank, is an effective way to reduce spine problems. 
 

Researcher Loren Fishman said that since scoliosis is an asymmetrical condition, he has treated it asymmetrically, asking patients to do the pose on the weaker side only, which strengthens the specific spinal muscles on the convex side that are needed to help with curve reduction. 

Fishman added while the National Scoliosis Foundation (NSF) recommends twenty-five yoga poses, it does not cite clinical results and does not suggest that the poses be done asymmetrically. 

Fishman continued that since many scoliosis patients are adolescent girls, the unwieldy bracing and lengthy exercising is socially awkward, emotionally painful and physically difficult and yet untreated scoliosis can progress at 7% per year, and result in disability and life-threatening health risks. 

The paper concluded that an asymmetrically strengthening the convex side of the primary curve with daily practice of the Side Plank (yoga pose) held for as long as possible (up to 2 minutes) for 3 to 22 months appeared to reduce the primary sclerotic curve. 

Source:National Scoliosis Foundation (NSF)