Practicing Simple Yoga Pose Reduces Adolescent Scoliosis by Almost Half

In a recent clinical trial that studied yoga for the reduction of scoliosis curvature, researchers found that a basic yoga pose — done for an average of only 1.5 minutes a day, six times a week for two months — reduced idiopathic scoliosis curves for adolescent and adult patients an average of 32 percent. The 25-participant trial was evaluator-blinded, X-ray based and used the standard Cobb method for measuring results. Among 19 compliant patients who did yoga more than three times per week, the improvement was 40 percent. Within that group, adolescents saw a 49 percent improvement. All patients did the side plank yoga pose, and all patients practiced it on one side only, the side of their curve. “Since scoliosis is an asymmetrical condition, I have treated it asymmetrically, asking patients to do the pose on the weaker side only. That strengthens the specific spinal muscles on the convex side that are needed to help with curve reduction,” said the researcher who conducted the study. The most common treatment for this widespread condition is bracing. Because the braces are usually worn for 23 hours per day, the method can be unwieldy and socially awkward, particularly for adolescents. To read more about this study, click here.