An Introduction to Using Yoga to Work with Patients with Scoliosis

Course Description

This course is a combination of lecture and written material.  It assumes some knowledge and experience with yoga and is designed to help participants gain a clearer understanding of what scoliosis is, how it originates, the most common patterns, and how lifestyle habits can exacerbate it.  Most importantly it addresses how scoliosis can be managed using yoga poses.

This course is relevant to OT and PT because in the case of scoliosis, the whole body develops compensatory patterns from toe to head that impact pain, function, and balance.  Its management requires a whole body approach that encompasses stretching the muscles that are over tight and strengthening the muscles that are weak to elongate and derotate the spine, normalize the length tension relationship of muscles throughout the body system, decrease pain, increase functional outcomes, and provide patients with a means of self-management of their condition.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

• Recognize the etiology, anatomy, and physiology of scoliosis and how it affects muscle and organ function.
• Explain how daily habits exacerbate scoliosis.
• Describe tools of self-assessment to teach patients.
• Explain how to recognize scoliosis patterns.
• Utilize yoga poses to assess and correct muscle imbalances to align the spine through elongation and derotation.
• Develop a written routine that can be incorporated in a home exercise program for patients to self-manage their condition.

• Prerequisites

  None

• Educational Level

  Basic

• Other

  Satisfactory completion of this course will require the participant to respond to polling questions throughout the webinar.