I am starting sessions with a 29 year old female who has severe scoliosis. This will be my first experience. I am doing a lot of research so I'm prepared to make a difference to this young lady. I am looking for suggestions of exercises or any useful information. Thank you in advance. I look forward to your responses

hello, i found some good research material on scoliosis and a DVD made by PT Dr. Suzanne Martin. Its called Therapeutics for scolosis. Great info along with exercises specific for those with scolosis. I found it very helpful. You can find the DVD on Amazon or CollageVideo. Hope this helps.
Jamie

Thank you Jamie. I appreciate your quick response. I have seen your postings on the site. I did see the DVD by Dr Suzanne Martin. I was reading a couple of the reviews and they were not so great. I'm glad to hear you liked it. I will most likely purchase it. Tonight's session went well! Thank you!!!

Hi LC, Suzanne Martin has some wonderful material as does Karen Clippenger, Kathy Corey and Michelle Larson. Do you know the % of the curve your client has? It her scoliosis is fairly severe, basic stabilization will be key, helping her find a 'home' position to balance her short to long side and elongating the short side with empowering the bound side to become more free. All of the above teachers have presented numerous times on the subject of scoliosis and have an enormous amount of knowledge in the area. You'll be able to find some things on youtube also. Let me know how it goes. If you want some personal examples, I'd be happy to share more with you. I have quite a bit of experience with clients who have scoliosis. It's an interesting puzzle.

Hi Amy. Thanks for your input. I love to watch your classes!! My client didn't know the percentage of the curve. She was diagnosed as a child but her parents did nothing about it. According to her, it has gotten worse. Her thoracic curves to the right displaying a hump. The lumbar curves as well(s- curve). Rib cage rotates to right. Right hip higher as well as right shoulder. When I worked with her last night. We did breathing exercises to engage TVA and pelvic floor. She wasn't connecting to TVA but was able to find pelvic floor. We did chest lift and hip rolls. I aligned her as best I could before and during movements. I did side leg series. She felt off balance when on her left side. I figured because her rib cage was not under her side, but spiraled to the right. She was great. She was excited. Also, gave her a pinkie ball. She liked how her feet felt after rolling on it. I felt bad for her. She was so self conscious of the scoliosis. She has a very nice shape.

hi my friend has scoliosis, id love to hear how your client is getting on with the pilates.?

I think Mr.Brent Anderson has some good insights and exercises for Scolosis.. You can also find him on utube. For sure Dr. Martin is knowledgable but her method of teaching is rather dry and a bit annoying. Prob why she gets bad reviews! But you can find some useful info if u can get thru the way she teaches. Sorry if I offend anyone with that remark. We all have our own styles of teaching for sure.!

Sorry dozydelilah that it took me so long to respond. I have not seen the client since July. She was away and then I was away. She is a teacher, so she has been busy with back to school. Our sessions will resume in a couple of weeks. To be honest, I'm finding scoliosis hard to find exact info on, unless I want to pay. I just paid 300 for CEC's plus books and DVDs I bought this year. I have to have some limits. I found some exercises on line. One PT suggested hanging from a Cadillac, but when I asked my friend who is a PT, said she would just hang crooked. He suggested core strength and stabilization. Stretch the size that's shortened. I'm hoping STOTT will offer a CEC course this December.

Leigh, I've got some other ideas for you too. I agree with the PT who suggested hanging from the Cadillac, but depending on the severity of this curve, hanging could be a little extreme. I might suggest that the client supports herself a bit first by positioning herself on her knees so the hanging isn't so extreme. Is there a mirror near for her to see her form as she is hanging? If she can see her curve, you can use that as a way to teach her to lengthen the short side and by contracting the long side a bit. I have so many ideas for you....not enough space to write. I'd love to keep going with this dialogue.......

Hi Amy. If I lived in California, I would be knocking on your door. There is a mirror. I like your idea. How can we continue this dialogue. I really want to learn!! I was just watching your hand weights class. I was getting ideas for my class tonight. You're awesome!!!