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Dangers for Scoliotic Performing Yoga Exercises

Problems with Hatha Yoga for Scoliosis by Christa Lehnert‐Schroth

In recent years announcements and articles in the internet as well as journals even in

specialized books

recommend

Yoga

for

Scoliosis

and

train

teachers

for

it.

Teachers in Pilates circles also tackle the topic. There is even a “Yoga for Scoliosis Teacher

Training Journal” in which a Yoga practitioner is trained in five days to be a teacher for all

scoliosis cases, see http//www.triciavilleyoga,cin/7.html.

Yoga is not only a treatment but a spiritual belief system, therefore it seems that when we

question part of the system, the whole system feels challenged

Here we enumerate the problems we’ve exposed. Many Yoga Poses can be harmless or

beneficial to a scoliotic body. For instance arm‐ and leg exercises and stretching exercises

without turning

or

bending.

Hatha

Yoga

is

fundamentally

unsuited

to

treat

scoliosis

because

the exercises were not distigned for the tasks inherent in treating a complex asymmetrical

muscular and spinal pathology.

Yoga exercises are increasibly used by some instructors to treat scoliosis, but without full

understanding of their effects. Scoliosis poses unique problems to the therapist because of

its inherently and asymmetrical configuration, while therapeutically to a patient’s

pathologically asymmetrical torso without comprehensive physiological and anatomical

knowledge and expertise which no Yoga practitioner has jet demonstrated in any publication

related to scoliosis.

In the above mentioned Yoga and Pilates exercises all photos show partipiciants in clothing

that

covers

their

bodies

doing

fantastic‐

looking

movements,

which

often

have

an

artistic

effect. But Yoga practitioners tend in such exercises not to observe the uncovered back of

the patients. If they did, they would neccessarily notice that the exercises described below

make the scoliosis worse and that pain must neccessarily develope. Even if these exercises

are performed to both sides. The ribs altogether bend or twist atleast in a wrong form.

In these days I’ve got an e‐mail from India: “I am the mother of a 13 years old girl who has

been diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic strucrural thoracolumbar scoliosis about six

month back. My daughter has just been for her six monthly check‐up and as per the X‐rays

the curve seems to have gotten much worse. It has progressed by a whopping 11 degrees in

these six months. During this time she has actively practiced Iyengar Yoga and done a bit of

swimming. These obviously do not seem to have helped. Even though the doctor did

mention that she is remarkably well balanced visually. Cobb angle of time of the dedection

33 degrees for the lumbar curve.

Cobb angle currently 44 degrees.

The doctor has suggested to go for a full fusion surgery sooner than later. Especially in view

of the fact she still has at least one year of groth spurt left.”

Therefore it is high time to examine these Hatha Yoga exercises and their effect more

closely, in order to open the eyes of the Yoga and Pilates practitioners and show them the

demage that such exercises do to scoliosis patients. But for all other persons Hatha Yoga is



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very good. In this article I refer exclusively the pictures in my book “Three‐Dimensional

Scoliosis Treatment” (www.schrothmethod.com)

Anatomy

First it is important to understand the normal anatomy of the spine and rib cage from behind

and from the front.

Normally one sees in an anatomy book the spinous processes of the 24 vertebrae point

dorsally, see fig. 1 and 2.

Every vertebra has a pair of transverse processes on the left and right, by which the ribs are

attached via joints to the thoracic spine, see fig. 1. The ribs pass from the rear laterally

around the chest cavity and forward to the sternum to which they are again attached via

joints. Only the 11th

and 12th

pairs of ribs hang free in the waist musculature, Each vertebral

body has two more joints processes pointing cranially towards the skull and two caudally

towards the sacrum.

Fig 1

Fig 2



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Fig.3

In fig.1 on the right side in side view. There are three physiological

curves observed. Lumbar forward (lordotic), thoracic backward

(kyphotic), cervical

forward

(lordotic).

Fig 4

The rib articulations and transvers processes of the thoracic vertebrae posteriorly, see fig. 4 and

band 10th

ribs all attaching to the 7th

rib. The 11th

and 12th

ribs are free floating ribs, only articulating

with the 11th

and 12th thoracic vertebra.

In a wrong posture the discs , fig. 5, then no longer push us straight up, but rather in the direction

which provides less resistence. See fig. 5b

Therefore, when considering the anatomical joint position of the spine and rib cage the body is

cabable of many movements. For instance bending forward and backward and belaterally.

It is important to consider the intervertebral discs with these various movements and what effect

these may have on the discs. These movements allow the nucleus to lateralize to the less loaded

side, which offers limited resistance.

Of course, these movements not only affected the vertebrae but also the adjacent intervertebral

discs in this direction.

Bending forward.

When forward bending of the upper body occurs, the intervertebral discs are gliding to the rear. If

the patient

does

that

for

constant,

than

the

physiological

curve

(thoracic

kyphosis)

can

become



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pathological. A rib hump can form as a result. When the body is in the upright position the nucleus

pulposus (gel. substance) moves into a neutral position in the center of the intervertebral disc,

assuming that the body has not established a hyperkyphotic form, in a thoracic curvature to the rear

the intervertebral discs will grow wedge‐shaped.

Bending backward

Fig 5:

from the

left

side

from

the

right

side

Consider now extension of the upper body or bending backward, which creates straightening of the

thoracic kyphosis (hypokyphosis in sagittal plane ). But this creates increased pressure in the

physiological lumbar curvature anteriorly. This results in a ‘hollow back’, since the corresponding

vertebrae shift anteriorly (forward) and the nucleus pulposus (gel) is forced forward in the

intervertebral discs. Certainly this is an indication of the person’s flexibility. However, the abdominal

muscles are stretched and the intestines protrude forward and place themselves into the stomach.

Even though the appearance is good – but unhealthy and often it initiates back pain.

Another pose referenced in Yoga Journal, May 2006 is the Salabhasana – (Locust pose.) showing

the patient in prone position lifting and turning the left hand upward and elevaiting the right leg, and

the left arm simultaneously – or both legs and/or both arms together, fig. 9.

The pose creates increased lumbar lordosis and increases the already existing all upper curves.

The following back bending poses patients with mal posture must avoid, too:

Dhanuras, Camel Pose (Ustrasana), One‐legged Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Raiakapotasana), Crescent

Pose (Anjaneyasana) , Cobra pose (Bhujangasana).

Why is bending to the rear with the upper body harmful? Because the root of the rib hump, that is

the beginning of the abnormal rounding of the back commences directly out of the the lumbar

lordosis to bend rearward and to bend forward again at the rib point of the rib hump. Thus

phenomenon increases during a rear bending exercise of the torso and thus disfigures the figure. So

we cancel these exercises for scoliosis

The therapeutic goal should be to reverse the imbalance of trunk and strengthen and stabilize while

the patient is in a corrected position accounting for all the spinal and trunk deviations, as well as the

lateral and sagittal dysfunctions. Corrective exercises do not involve bending and twisting since

these maneuvers will increase spinal loading which will be detrimental to the wrong posture:



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Bow (Dhanuras), Camel Pose (Ustrasana) , One‐legged Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Raiakapotasana),

Crescent Pose (Anjaneyasana) , Cobra pose (Bhujangasana), Half Moon, Wheel, Bow and Scorpion.

The therapeutic goal should be to reverse the imbalance of the body and strengthen and stabilize

while the patient is in a corrected position accounting for all the spinal and trunk deviations, as well

as the (lateral and) sagittal dysfunctions. These corrective exercises do not involve bending and

twisting since these maneuvers will increase spinal loading which will be detrimental especially to

the scoliotic patients.

Bending sideward

In a sideways bending of the upper body similar things happen. In a bend to the right the vertebrae

with their soft and gelatinous intervertebral cores shift to the left and press into the left side, as they

are squeezed in the right. One can now easily breath into the left side.

It is recommended for a normal builded body to do this lateral bending also towards the left side,

whereby the right side can be ventilated.

When performing a sideways bend (lateral flexion) of the upper body the following occurs:

A lateral bend to the right will create also a wedge of the upper body with closed end on the

right and open wedge on the left. Now the intervertebral discs with the soft gelatinous

substance being compressed on the right (waist) – and this fluid now accumulating on the

left.

The ribs 11 and 12 are in soft tissue musculature. They run almost horicontally

into the abdomen because the soft musculature does not offer support.

As a result asymmetric loading occurs on the spinal joints. If position is held for a prolonged

period of time the person is subject to advanced spinal degeneration, developing spinal

spurs (osteophytes),

disc

herniation

which

can

lead

to

spinal

stenosis.

Spinal

stenosis

is

a narrowing of the central and/or lateral neural canal. When this occurs sciatic nervs

impingement is likely thereby. The person can develop leg pain. Therefor the goal is to

perform a revers lateral bend to the other side ‐ in normal builded bodies.

Trunk rotation

Trunk rotation is performed when the pelvis is fixed (stationary) and the shoulder girdle is

rotated against the pelvic girdle. For example, in a seated position rotate the right shoulder

backward and the left shoulder forward. This creates an oblique tension on the ventral

(front) side. The left chest is contracted, the right expanded. When observing from behind

the

thoracic

right

rib

cage

and

the

spine

is

full

rounded

creating

a

larger

lung

space.

Now,

when the person breathes, the breath is increasingly directed into the right lung space. Now

the person should take also the other side to ventilate each side.

Now let us discuss in more details bending movements by Hatha Xoga exercises in

scoliosis:

Forward bending pose

When the upper body assumes forward flexion rounding of the back in a thoracic kyphosis and the

lumbar lordosis decreases in lumbar kyphosis, too.



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Plow (halasana).Fig.6

When the

legs

are

extended

from

supine

position

vertically

upward, the entire weight of legs and pelvis stretches the stomach muscles in length and power

before the legs are bent over the head. The weight of legs and pelvis rests on the shoulder girdle.

The back is rounded all inhaled air flows into the rib hump. The head is pressed forward, the upper

breast is narrow. What an effect shall have such an exercise for scoliosis? We leave it.

Shoulder stand or Candle: Fig.7

Assuming a pose that places body weight upon the shoulder will invariably prove deleterious for a

scoliosis patient. See Fig.7

In the shoulder stand pose the entire weight of legs, pelvis and trunk rests upon the shoulder girdle.

The effect is to compress the shoulder girdle including claviculae, and to increase the rib hump. The

cervical spine is forced into forward flexion which creates a cervical kyphosis instead of a cervical

lordosis in a normal spine. This pose compromises breath in, since all inhaled air is forced into the

right convex

area,

further

enlarging

the

rib

hump

on

the

right.



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Please, turn the fig. 7 180° so that the person stands on feet. He looks depressively down and feels

the rounding of the upper body. We leave this exercise.

Now to the Back bending Poses

A second type of contraindicated exercises for scoliosis patients is the back bend. In the article in

Yoga Journal May 2006 patients with scoliosis are directed to perform an exercise referred to as the

Reclining Backbend. In this pose the position of the spine compromises its sagittal alingnment.

Referring to the illustration in Yoga Journal May 2006 we see a model in supine position placed a

bolster under the thoracic spine which is already hypokyphotic on the concave side, the effect will

be to create a thoracic lordosis or thoracic extension. This is desirable if the patient is hyperkyphotic

but the majority of scoliosis patients are in fact hypokyphotic on the concave side. We can see it in

X‐rays in side view. For these patients the bolster creates spinal instability in the sagittal plane. The

Yoga spine therapy continues to bend further laterally and rotates, creating still more lumbar

instability .

Fig 8 a Fig 8b Fig 8c

The back bend pose shortens the thoracic muscle groups, especially rhomboids, latissimus dorsi,

trapecius and erector spinae. In the same process the abdominal muscles are lengthened and

weakened, though the scoliosis patient needs to shorten the abdominals, not to stretch them.

Unfortionately these poses increase thoracic extension which is contraindicated for most scoliotics,

see book Weiss “Best practices” due to the fact that it creates increased spinal instability, You don’t

think that one size fits all with scoliosis, but to the contrary, each patient and each curve pattern

must be addressed individually or the result could be progression rather than improvement.

Upward facing dog, fig 8a

When bending the upper body backward (thoracic extension) the stomach muscles are

oberstretched. It is not the rib hump which is desired to reduce but rather the lumbar lordosis

increases. The rib hump starts with thoracic extension, starting at the lumbar area, which occurs on

the rib hump side in scoliosis. Therefore, one should absolutely avoid backward bending of the upper

body! See also the explaining about the root of the rib hump!



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Fig. 9 prone position, one arm or one leg raising.

The similar happens in prone position. The lumbar muscles have to work and to raise the upper body.

This exercise may be suitable for lumbar kyphosis.

Side bending in Yoga Poses or exercises in scoliosis

Now let us discuss these exercises in a scoliosis body.

First the anatomical and physiological consideration.

In the clinical dictionary Pschyrembel scoliosis is defined as: “Greek scolios, crocked.

Curvature of the spine with rotation of the individual vertebrae (torsion) and stiffening in

this section”. This definition is lacking for several reasons. But scoliosis includes more than

spine alone. The entire chest is involved since the ribs articulate with the transverse

processes of the thoracic vertebrae. This articulation is responsible for the rib distorsion

which creates an unbalanced rib cage which makes the rib hump visible ‐ especially with

forward flexion of the trunk.

Located between two vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine are intervertebral

discs excluding the first and second cervical vertebrae where no disc is present. All discs are

composed of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosus has

intertwined collagenous fibers which surrounds the nucleus pulposus. The nucleus pulposus

consists of a liquid, gelatinous substance. The vertebrae consists of osseous structures which

include the spinous process which points posteriorly bilateral

The transverse processes pointing laterally. These transverse processes in the thoracic spine

articulate with ribs bilaterally.

Fig.10

In fig. 10 we see normal muscles on the back,

for instance longissimus, iliocostalis, erector spinae etc



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Fig 11

In fig 11 we see a patient with a seriously distorted

scoliotic trunc. In the drawing of a right thoracic scoliosis

( fig 14 ) is seen that the spinous processes in scoliosis no

longer point backward because the trunk stands no

longer axially correctly, instead property vertically

aligned, but are rotated towards the concave side of the

curvature. Simultaneously the ribs on the inner arc

(concave side) pressed more together, while on the

convex side of the curve they stand further apart. So the rib pleura is connected with the lung pleura

by vacuum (membrane) and contributes to asymmetric lung expansion – increasing the already

abnormal curvature of the scoliotic spine.

In the same picture we see not only one side bending curvature – but also two smaller compensatory

curves in the opposite direction. These compensatory curves serve as counterbalance. A balanced

body is now observed,but it is pathological called scoliotic balance.

Simultaneously the

ribs

on

the

concave

side

are

narrow

while

on

the

convex

side

widening

of

the

intercostal space is present. (spreading the rib space apart) .

In the drawing is seen that the spinous processes no longer point backward, but are rotated towards

the concave side of the curvature. Simultaneously the ribs on the inner arc side are pressed more

together, while on the convex side of the curve they stand further apart. Since the rib pleura is

connected with the lung pleura by vacuum (membrane), and the lung is better ventilated on the right

side by unilateral rib tension, each breath will contributes to asymmetric lung expansion increasing

the already abnormal curvature of the spine.

Now it

is

apparent

why

adeveloping

scoliosis

worsens.

Primarily

because

the

intervertebral

discs

have become wedge‐shaped and their nucleus pulposus (inner gelatinous substance) is being forced

into an abnormal position.

Side bending exercises

Fig. 12 small side bending to the right and to the left



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Standing, arms stretched vertically. This little bending prooves the flexibility of the trunk.

In scoliosis is that not to recommend, because a side bending to the right or to the left , may be in a

thoracic or in a lumbar curve, works always into an existing curve. So we cancel this exercise for

scoliosis.

Fig.13 X‐rays of a 4 years old girl.

In the first X‐ray the vertebral line by 19°. The second X‐ray shows a follow up X‐ray after 1 ½ years.

The lumbar spine now deviates 30° from the vertical line which represents a significant deterioration.

Both X‐rays were taken in resting position.

The third X‐Ray was taken on the same day as the second during exercise. It shows a very distinct

flattening on the main scoliotic curve. ‐ If the pelvis would be not visible, it may imagine that the

spine

may

have

been

straight

up

by

this

exercise.

However,

turning

the

X‐

ray

so

that

the

pelvis

is

horizontal, like the forth picture shows, that the body has been unbalanced even further by this

exercise. The flowting ribs at the right have moved even clother to the pelvic crest than the first

picture. The same happens by Hatha Yoga bending exercises. The person shall recognice what

happens by bending the upper trunk laterally only to recognize what happens by treating lateral

flexion when only one curvature of the spine is seen or pay attension for it.

With other words: We have to treat all three or four curves ‐ of trunk segments ‐ otherwise all of

the spinal curvatures will worsen.

Each case of scoliosis is a sum of malpostures which have developed into one wrong shape. For this

reason it

is

not

enough

to

correct

only

one

specific

malposture,

since

those

remaining

spoil

the

overall result. It disturbes the body’s balance. The rib hump increases and requires the opposite hip

to shift laterally (outward) to maintain balance. This creates a lumbar hump to the opposite side of

the rib hump. Now the head can’t remain shifted to the right, but rather belongs in the middle of the

body (above the spine) with the shoulder girdle section wedging towards the thoracic concave

side. Thus the three developing spinal curvatures are strengthened and worsened .

In contrast the purpose of scoliosis treatment via a physical exercise approach, is to account for these

spinal and trunk imbalances in three dimensions. Often the sagittal profile is not overlooked. A

common mistake made by unknowing instructors or patients attempting to self classify . Their



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curvatures are to mistakenly determine that unilateral scapula winging is automatically associated

with a thoracic hyperkyphosis when in reality the majority of the times the patient has a thoracic

hypokyphosis. This leads to trouble when determining which exercises to perform for one’s own

scoliosis.

Fig. 14 Triangle Pose

On page 6 Yoga Journal, May 2006 examine the person Triangle pose. Note, there is a wide stance

and her torso bends to the right, the right hand outstretched toward the right foot, and the left arm

stretched over

the

head

created

a reversal

of

the

right

thoracic

curve.

The

goal

is

to

open

the

left

thoracic concavity (widen the left rib cage) allowing increased respiration into the collapsed side. This

is appropriate. However, other anatomical joints and muscles must be considered. The negative

(contraindicated) effect occurs when considering the lumbar spine. The right lumbar concavity is

further compressed, thereby shortening (concentric) the musculature and increasing asymmetric

loading on the spinal joints. The right free floating ribs (11th

and 12th) are shifted to the left creating

an increased left lumbar convexity, which acerbates the left lumbar hump (prominence). This results

in muscle lengthening and rotating of the left lumbar musculature , which needs to be shortened. If

the exercise is performed to the opposite side, then the left thorax concavity and right rib hump

(convexity) increases. Therefore, this maneuver cannot be performed hoping to achieve balance

when mechanically

it

is

incorrect.

This

must

be

avoided

as

it

aggravates

the

existing

imbalance.

Schroth does the opposite, for instance the exercise muscle cylinder, fig. 15



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Schroth leans the upper body to the left ( concave) side, to strengthen the right lumbar muscles.

The back muscles erector spinae, longissimus dorsi and others can now pull together the rib hump

from below. So the “roof” of the rib hump stands vertically again.

In this exercise the pelvis is fixed in the best derotated position (right picture), Now the rib cage can

be derotated with the “leaded” Schroth breathing in three‐dimesional manner for the right waist, the

left ribs, the frontal rght ribs. The head pulls with a thrust of the fontanelle cranially.

When all

is

done,

we

firm

the

today

best

result

of

exercise

with

an

isometric

tension

round

about

the

whole trunk.

Fig. 16 This picture in side laying belongs also to the rubric “Side bending”.

The patient has a pronounced three‐curve scoliosis, lumbar

left, thoracic right (fig. 11) in order to correct the thoracic

curve, but the lumbar curve increases, because the upper

body becomes heavier on the right. This requires – because

of correction of balance ‐ that the left hip protrudes. Since

the

left

lumbar

musculature

must

now

attempt

to

hold

the

body in balance. It tightens up and draws the lumbar spine

towards the left. But not only that. The shoulder girdle is

drawn out of its horizontal position and pulls the thoraco‐

cervical curve along towards the left. This creates another shoulder hump.

As well, in addition, in this position the right ribs are pressed of the weight. But that doesn’t be with

the side ribs because of the trunk rotation. What is pressed now, are a parts of the front‐side ribs.

And these ribs are not allowed to go inward. They have to breath forward‐upward. One can see in

the picture that the right front part is turned rearward. After this knowledge we have to leave this

posture

or

exercise

!

Fig. 17 Schoth imagine the different movings

Remark: When evalueting a right thoracic curve laterally in flexion

to the right increases thoracic curvature, since the already

lengthened muscles are further lengthened via stretching, while

simultaneously increasing spinal joint loading and vertebral wedging.

However, if translation (side shift) is performed in the coronal

(frontal) plane, the convex muscles shorten while the concave

lengthen and spinal joint loading is decreased. fig.17

The drawing fig 17 shall make clear how Schroth imagines the

different movings:

1 = a straight trunk 2 = scoliosis thoracic right 3 = bending the upper trunk to the right

4 = result while doing this. The trunk sinks together, the spine is shorter 5 = according to Schroth

lean (not bend) the trunk to the left. All curvatures are longer and stretched.

Fig l8

drawing



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A = the point where one bow goes into the next one

B= upper lumbar bow

C= low thoracic bow

D= upper thoracic bow

E= low shoulder‐neck bow

One bow goes into the next one in the same direction. When one

direction changes, the bows grow bigger.

Here I may tell you, what happened, as I wrote to a senior Iyengar Yoga specialist, that he has to stop

such side

bending

exercises

for

thoracic

right

scoliosis

because

the

right

lumbar

area

grows

narrow

and the lumbar spine deviates to the left. The rib 11 and 12 and the laterally in soft tissue

musculature on the right waist are pressed. They run almost horizontally. In case of a severe scoliosis

these two ribs reach vertically into the abdomen because the soft tissue musculature does not offer

support and is atrophic. The weight of the overhanging rib hump produses a deep fold. The lumbar

spine is displaced and pushed over to the opposite side. I sent him a part of my article.

He answered: “Triangle pose (Trikonasana). The subject in a Triangle Pose assumes a wide stance

and bends her torso to the right. Her right hand reaches towards her right foot and her left arm

stretches over her head. ‘If a patient with a right –side lumbar concavity is told to take her bottom

hand towards

her

right

foot

and

then

her

left

arm

stretches

over

her

head’,

clearly,

the

patient

is

practicing with a woefully unadaequate teacher. Because on the rudimentary level, assuming

Triangle Pose to the right side with a right lumbar concavity should have the right arm STRETCHED

PARALLEL to the floor and the right arm, AWAY from the right foot and placed on a chair at the

height of the right side ribs. Then the left arm, instead of streching up should also be brought up

and over the head, PARALLEL to the floor and the right arm ‐‐ the left hand on the top of the same

chair, so that BOTH SIDES OF THE LUMBAR SPINE AND CORRESPONDING ERECTOR SPINAE MUSCLES

ARE EQUALLY EXTENDED, wITH EVEN AND BALANCED LOADING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VERTEBRAE”

‐

“Furthermore: In

the

author’s

description

(mine!)

the

author

(me!)

descripts,of

the

pose

she

assumes that when Triangle Pose is performed to the right side the lumbar right waist is SHORTENED

and the floating ribs (11th

and 12th) pushed toward the left side, further aggravating the already

atrophied right‐side muscles. The autor writes: “The right free floating ribs (11th

and 12th) are shifted

to the left, downward and medially.” But this is ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT ! WHEN Triangle Pose is

done to the right side, the head of the right femur is supposed to be absorbed sufficiently into the

hip, the right side buttock bone resisted sufficiently forward so that the right‐side floating ribs are

extended AWAY from the right side waist. LENGTHENING the right‐side quadratus lumborum. NOT

SHORTENING IT . Also Triangle Pose is not a lateral bend, but it is a lateral extension, NOT a lateral

bend.”



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What shall one say to that?

This expert doesn’t know, that we all have three parts of the trunk and not only one in the middle.

He doesn’t see the lumbar area, which is as the cellar of a house. And a cellar has to be horizontal,

so that the other parts can built exactly vertically upon. The same we have to think about our body,

The expert doesn’t want to look at the lumbar and pelvis part. He doesn’t see that the left lumbar

muscles pull the lumbar spine to the left and rotate it. That is also the case when he “stretches” the

right waist,

because

all

the

body

weight

hangs

on

these

left

lumbar

muscles.

He has a similar strange explanation for ‘Back Bending’.

He writes: ”To my eyes and understanding she is making false conclusions regarding the ‘effects’ of

the practice. She is choosing one photo of one posture, perhaps orchestrated and arranged by

somebody unqualified. This one photo may very well be ill advised. The exercise is being done

incorrectly. We have a whole array of different shaped wedges. foams, bandages. ropes, poles,

triangles. etc to modify the unwanted counter‐actions of the spine, in order to create a harmoneus

balanced manageable spinal extension.

There is

not

supposed

to

be

accent

on

dorsal

extension

in

the

backbends.

Conversely

the

spine,

from

the tip of the anterior coccyx all the way up into the atlas is supposed to have a balanced and a

harmoneus extension where space is created evenly between the vertebrae, with an emphasis on

anterior gapping. But this anterior gapping is not supposed to pinch, close, and/or rotate the spine in

any compromised way. And if it does, the posture is being done incorrectly and on a body that is not

ready for such an action. In which case the posture must be thrown to the side‐ a correctly

assembled back bend creates traction for the spine ‐ not compression and lateral rotation.”

( I say: Where we can find something written about the different aids to use? And Schroth has no

patient who is not jet ready for this or that exercise.)

Hed says: “The author then contends that the backward extension shorten the thoracic muscle

groups (I mean the lumbar muscles) and that the abdominal muscles get weakened.

In a classic backbend the dorsal muscles are momentarily contracted. Yes. But does that give the

author the freedom to proclaim, the muscles are shortened? One could easily use the words ‘toned’,

‘rinsed’. ‘strengthened’, ‘charged or flushed’…”

( I say: He misunderstood: The overstretched abdominal muscles are growing weak because they are

now in the exercise long and later they are unable to pull themselves together. So that the intestines

can sink forward and down. The patient gets a ‘big stomach’ and a lumbar lordosis.)

He says:“If Locust Pose is practiced in a way that creates ‐ as the author points out‐ increased

lordosis, then yes, it is counterproductive when trying to address scoliosis.

Why should it create lordosis which is an abnormal overextension/arch of the lumbar spine? Any

senior Iyengar Yoga teachers for example know that any patient with spinal condition must

emphasize in the ‘back arches’ know that a spinal condition must emphasize the longitudinal

extension of the spine in “putting very accent on any arch.”

( I say: That is nowhere written or shown. But with his ‘back extension” the lumbar lordosis stays

nevertheless!)



15

He says: “Salabasaba is practiced with a folded blanket placed crosswise just below the navel at the

level of L5, encouraging the anterior face of L5 to move posteriorly. The patient stretches both

arms forward, lifting the wrists/hands upon to a chair seat, keeping the head down so as not to push

the lumbar further into lordosis. The properly trained teacher then stands above the patient at the

level of his/her pelvis. And with a trained foot, the teacher moves the sacrum strongly down (distally)

and into (anteriorly) the body.

Then the patient is told, not to arch, but to extend the anterior spine, along with the arms in a

longitudinal extension,

balanced

left

to

right

and

front

to

back.

This

does

not

create

lumbar

overarching (lordosis). On the contrary, it gaps L5/S1 and creates traction for the lower spine.”

( I say: When the arms are lying upon the chair seat, the thoracic back muscles work in a good

extension. But the front rib bow glisses forward and creates a lumbar lordosis. What shall the head

to keep forward? That creates only a kyphosis in the upper trunk. ‐ And what about a trained foot? Is

this chiropractic? Schroth does never do something to correct with the foot.)

What shall one say about?

You can do spinal extensions, but the wrong position of the pelvis stays and works worsening.

When you bend the upper trunk to one side, it pulls always another lumbar push into the opposite

lumbar direction.

Fig. 19 The three trunk blocks in a three curve right thoracic scoliosis with the deviations in frontal

plane

The first drawing shows a normal body and its trunk areals: from down: The pelvis block, the

thoracic block and the shoulder girdle block with head.

The second drawing showes a mild scoliosis. The three “blocks” shift laterally against each other:

The pelvis block shifts to the left, the thoracic block shifts to the right. The shoulder girdle block

shifts to the left.

The third drawing shows a decompensated scoliosis, not only sideways, but also turned against each

other. The blocks are now wedge shaped and the trunk sinks together.



16

The fourth drawing showes a patient in resting position who has such a form. The pelvis is moved to

the left, the left hip stands out, is prominent because the body weight is on the right leg. The upper

body sinks to the right.

If the upper trunk is wrong bent to the right and the pelvis moved to the left, the trunk is balanced

over the center of gravity. But it is a scoliotic balance. This is why the bodyweight rests more on the

right leg while standing ‐ and on the right buttock while sitting. This position represents a

disadvantage for scoliosis patients.

Once more:

Each case of scoliosis is a sum of malposture which have developed into one wrong shape. For this

reason it is not enough to correct only one spezific malposture, since those remaining spoil the

overall result.

Fig. 20 The four trunk blocks in a four curve scoliosis

In this case the pelvic girdle is divided into a lumbar and a pelvic section. So the blocks turn against

each other. All have shifted laterally against each other and turn against each other, too. The blocks

sink together. The drawing on the right shows a patient with such a form. The right hip stands out, is

protruded. That is very important for the training:

In resting position of a dorsal right scoliosis with four curves the body‐weight is on the left side. The

body sags to the left, the lumbar spine showes a big curve. This position represents quite a

disadventage for scoliosis patients. The consequence would be in reversal exerczises: The pelvis

shall move

to

the

left,

but

the

lumbar

curve

shall

turn

against

inward

‐forward.

The

body

weight

shall

rests more in the middle while standing or sitting. The drawing on the right depicts an rotated trunk

with a right thoracic trunk. The right hip is prominent.

All this the therapist needs to know. He has to understand, why this or that exercise is called for one

scoliosis and another is prohibited in scoliosis.

Now for the Torso rotation or/and Twist, fig. 21

That is a combination Pose.. A torso twist occurs when the shoulder girdle together with the thorax

section rotate against a fixed pelvis as in the Chair Twist Pose.



17

Fig. 21 the Torso Rotation Pose

The patient (left picture) turns the right shoulder rear, the left shoulder forward. One sees, the right

hump rounded side‐ and backward because the pelvis is turned to the opposite.

The right picture shows the turning left shoulder back, right shoulder forward. The right rib hump

aggravates, too., because the left front rib bow pushs forward.

One sees the right hump rounded side and backward because the pelvis is sitting fixed turned to the

opposite.

You can turn and twist the trunk, it is wrong, when shoulder girdle is turned against the pelvis,

because the middle of the trunk, the rib cage with the rib hump is out of seeing. Nobody thinks

about of our three blocks. All are seeing only two., the shouler and the pelvis.

A person who does not recognize these elements perform such harmful exercises or prescribes them

for others, without attempting to determine exactly their physiological effects.

But the

Yoga

expert

writes:

“The

author

is

describing

a very

poorly

performed

twist

whose

emphasis

appears to be on rotation and not the unique spinal extension that is supposed to be explored in

relationship to a gradually increased reasonable torque of spinal rotation ‐ especially for scoliosis

patients.”

The patients want to try all exerzises on pictures of Yoga‐books and articles about twisting and

bending. And this is doing dangerous. These exercises must avoid since there is no way to perform it

without counterproductive effects.

All Yoga teachers talk about Lyengar , from whom they learned these exercises for scoliosis. He is

the headman

of

Yoga

and

all

pay

him

tribute.

Lyengar

was

born

1918

and

offered

his

‘foundings

for

scoliosis’ in the middle of the last century. But unfortionately he also didn’t think about scoliosis

more. For him was the most important thing to open the concavity. He gave curses for scoliosis. And

all his students agree and don’t look behind these exercises.

Lyengar didn’t realize our three trunk blocks (pelvis, rib cage, shoulder‐neck). He twists the shoulder

girdle together with the rib cage against the pelvis.

In bending he does the same: He bends the upper body = the shoulder girdle together with the rib

cage sideways against the pelvis, not thinking about the result of these movements while not looking

on

an

undressed

thorax.

But

we

can

see

that

in

the

pictures:



18

Schroth in a thoracic right scoliosis brings the right shoulder rear, but the right breast forward – and

the right pelvis once more rear. All this the expert didn’t see in his created exercises which he gave

his learning students and all other teachers, too. And they follow him ‐ till today!

Fig.22 The Schoth derotation–sit on chair

Katharina Schroth recognized this. She created counter exercises which work correctly on all spinal

curves and torso rotations. See fig. 22 above or my Schroth‐book .

The practitioner who wishes really to help the patients, finds a way out of the scoliotic misery – will

have to think about more than “How nice this exercise is looking!” The patient has to learn what

he/she has done wrong before and how it has to be performed correctly.

Conceived wrong exercises usually also causes the patients pain, because the spinal joints positioned

unphysiologically, and finally one bone section will begin to rub against another, causing pain

because the

skin

that

encloses

the

bone

is

the

most

sensitive

part.

Often a faulty load causes a rotation of vertebrae, so that the spine forms a flight of stairs ( to one

centimeter or more) in some vertebrae which strongly irritates the spine and also the patient. In

sever causes the only thing that can help is a surgical intervention.

All that would not be necessary if therapist and patient know exactly why they have to practice this

exercise and avoid that one. It is necessary to know and to understand the Schroth concept and to

train with thoughts, to acknowledge them and incorporate them into the therapy program.

Performing exercises without understanding the precise function and effects of each is a waste of

time and

often

harmful.

Katharina Schroth recognized this. She created counter exercises which work correctly on all spinal

curves and torso rotations. While do the Schroth ‐derotation‐sit, stretching the outward rotated

right leg rear the upper body has to lean forward exactly in prolongation of the stretched leg. So the

right waist is open for breathing according to Schroth. So the floating ribs can breathed laterally‐

cranially and rear and once more cranially till they will find their normal position. A push with the

heel helps to open the waist. All other concavities will be breathed three dimensional (left concave

side, right front ribs). When all is done the whole trunk shall firme all muscles of the trunk with an

isometric tension during exhalation. But Yoga exercises loosen muscles and joints.



19

Now I want to show an example with a patient of mine in former times:

Fig 23

He always sat after my treatment with him in this Yoga sit.

I forbit him that, but he didn’t hear. He didn’t want to stop

it he feels very well with it. He did it till it knocked

(knackte) in his spine. As I gave him his photos, he was

shocked and

immediately

he

stopped

this

Yoga

‐sit.

We see: His scoliosis is only a little to see. But when he

turns to the right or to the left, the rib hump aggravates.

When the back is almost fully exposed, thus the viewer clearly recognizes that the rib hump on the

right side rotates greatly outward and backwards and that the left side of the back shifts forward,

which is surely not the goal of this exercise. If a patient performs this rotational exercise regulary, the

abnormal curvature angles of the scoliosis will quickly increase and the doctor may recommend

surgery as soon as possible.

No matter, how the patient rotates, turns or bends, it will always be wrong when the goal is only to

improve the

thoracic

spinal

curve.

This

is

because

a scoliosis

consists

not

only

of

a single

spinal

curve.

A thoracic curve is soon accompanied, below by a lumbar curve and above by a shoulder‐neck curve.

All spinal curves enlarge when these Hatha Yoga exercises are practiced.

Fig.24 on the meadow in earlier times



20

Schroth does the opposite of that what the scoliotic body shows:

The left picture shows bending to the right. It presses the flowting ribs together and enlarges

the left lumbar convexity. The pelvis is out of balance.

On the right picture we see a Schroth exercise. The body stands upright without these above

described mistakes.

Fig. 25

The

16

years

old

boy

shows

us

what

he

had

done

before

Fig 25

We see on the picture a very disdorted

trunk with a big hump under the neck.

He trained formely these wrong

exercises for four years, not knowing

what he does. And no one told him to

stop that.

The picture

shows

him

torso

‐twisting:

right shoulder girdle rearward, but right

hip forward for holding balance. The rib

hump turns further to the rear and

enlarges. No one did recognize that. And

the boy thought it is all right.

Fig.26

Fig. 26: Schroth opens the narrow right waist. These muscles have now to carry the weight

of the upper body. In the same time the concave side is wide, air can stream in, three‐

dimensional leaded. All is combined with the most possible derotated pelvis and derotated

shoulder girdle. The head pulls cranially. The spine is now as long as possible. After all the

patient tenses all muscles isometrically while exhaling.



21

Fig.27: two results of different conservative treatments

a) The 12 years‐ old boy after a three month

treatment by Katharina Schroth.

b) Four years later The same boy at the age of 16

years. Meanewhile he trained bending and

twisting exercises

in

another

practice.

c) 10 years‐old girl at the beginning of Schroth

treatment.

d) The same girl at the age of 15 years at the end of

four in‐patient times with the Schroth method.

On Breathing

Previously breathing was only mentioned cursorily. However, it is an essential part of

Schroth therapy, in fact the most essential part. There is no other way to fill out the

collapsed torso sections. Only air pressure from within can widen and fill them out.

Therefore when correcting sunken upper body sections, the Schroth method always begins

with the constricted ribs, in order to push them apart. If one would merely press the ribs

inward that

have

shifted

laterally

and

rearward,

these

ribs

would

have

no

room

to

move,

because the collapsed ribs and the stiff spine would hinder them. A derotation of rib cage

and spine can only happen when the torso is extended to its greatest possible length. Thus

the Schroth method engages the so‐called right‐angle breathing (RAB) technique, which is

described in detail in my Schroth manual.

In RAB the patient breathes the ribs outward from the middle – that is the first direction –

and directly afterwards upward along the vertical axis of a right angle as the complementary

second direction. The upward direction means stretching the spine and thereby the whole

torso.

Outward

means

away

from

the

crooked

spine,

which

is

then

drawn

into

the

corrective

position.

To reduce the rib hump, the only method is to fill the rear torso cavities, whereby the ribs

serve as levers for the abnormally rotated vertebrae. This of course is only the outward

movement of the breath (ribs). A correct Schroth RAB action also includes an inward

movement of the breathing technique, a consciously one‐sided lowering of the diaphragm.



22

Perhaps this article will give qualified readers an incentive to compare the two methods,

yoga and Schroth, and their results. It is really high time to do this, because Yoga for Scoliosis

is spreading all over the world.

Fig.28 Four different forms of thoracic right scoliosis

Here we see four different forms of scoliosis. All patients have thoracic right curves.

a) the body is well balanced

b) the patient has an enormous shoulder hump

c) the left hip stands out in a three curve scoliosis

d) the right hip stands out in a four curve scoliosis

The therapist has to know what is to do for all single patient.

Let me stress again that I do not wish to demonize Hatha Yoga exercises because they are in

fact conceived very well for normal builded bodies as noted above. But they are

inappropriate for scoliosis patients. So scoliotic patients have to leave them.

I would be glad to get answers, may be agreeing or against my explanations, via e‐mail:

info@schroth‐skoliosebehandlung.de

Links:

The Schroth

exercises

I have

set

out

in

detail

in

my

richly

illustrated

text

book

„Three

‐Dimensionale

Treatment

for Scoliosis ‐ A Physiotherapeutic Method for Deformities of the Spine” now in the 8th edition in German.by

Urban & Fischer Elsevier, München. Not jet translated. The translated 7th

edition is still available by

www.schrothmethod.com

www.schroth‐skoliosebehandlung.de

www.scoliosistreatment ‐schroth.com

book HR Weiss„Best practice“, Pflaum‐Verlag München

Hr.Weiss : www.scoliosisXpert.com

www.scoliosisPT.com

www.scoliosisjournal/content//6/1/17

Elise Browning Miller in Yoga Journal May 2006

Marcia Monroe, book

probleme mit hatha eng[1]

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