Denton County Living Well Magazine January/February 2016 | Page 14

Can an Ancient Yoga Pose
Correct Scoliosis Spine Deformity?

F

Courtesy Texas Back Institute

or the more than six million people in the U.S. who
suffer from scoliosis, performing a basic yoga pose
for a few minutes each day may dramatically improve this spinal deformity. According to Dr. Rajesh
Arakal, a spine surgeon and expert on this disease
at Texas Back Institute, scoliosis is an often painful condition which causes the spine to curve in an “S” shape.
This spinal deformity disease has
been observed
for
thousands
of years, but
the cause and
cure have been
elusive. As was
outlined earlier
this year in this
Dr. Arakal and patient.
space, even royalty such as King Richard III was not immune to this debilitating disease.
“There is no cure for scoliosis,” Dr. Arakal said. “And genetic pre-disposition is the only known cause.” This bleak
prognosis for those suffering from scoliosis recently got a
little brighter.

Exciting Scoliosis Research
According to a study published in a recent issue of Global
Advances in Health and Medicine, spinal curvature of scoliosis patients was reduced by about 50 percent when they
practiced a yoga pose known as Vasisthasana. This position is also known as a “side plank.”
Researchers noted scoliosis patients who employed this
pose on the curved side can strengthen muscles in the
lower back, abdomen and spine which allows the spine
to straighten. This suggests patients who practice this side
plank pose regularly may not need corrective bracing (the
usual therapy for scoliosis) or surgery.
As noted in the article, researchers at Columbia College
of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City recruited 25
patients, 21 women and 4 men, ages 14 to 85 years of
age. After the participants spent a week learning the pose,
which involves leaning on one arm on the floor so the shoul-

ders, hips and
ankles are in
a straight line,
with the other
arm
pointing
straight up, they
were instructed
to hold this pose
for 10 to 20 seconds or longer at least once a day.
With the help of one of our TBI teammates who practices
yoga, here’s how the side plank is accomplished.

The Results Were Outstanding
The results of this simple yoga physical therapy were surprising.
The x-rays, which were taken before the study was conducted, when compared with those taken three to 22 months later
showed fairly dramatic improvement of the spinal curvature.
According the report, after 6.8 months of follow-up, spinal curving decreased by an average of 41 percent in 19 of the subjects who practiced the poses daily. The average improvement
in the group was 32 percent. “The most exciting part of this
study involved the improvement among adolescents,” said Dr.
Arakal. “It is during adolescence when most scoliosis is diagnosed and this study showed curved reduction among regular
practitioners was highest in the seven teenage subjects – 49.6
percent compared to 38.4 percent in adults.”
As with most strength building exercise, repetition seems to be
important with this therapy. Those participants who performed
the side plank fewer than four days a week improved by an
average of only 0.5 percent.
Dr. Arakal noted the benefits of this type of exercise. “When
there is scoliosis deformity, the nerve pathways change,” he
said. “This side plank pose helps to re-center them. It also works
isometrically to build the strength in the oblique muscles which
support the spine.”
“This research confirms our opinion that scoliosis patients as
well as those with milder forms of spine degeneration, of all
ages, should be using these yoga muscle strengthening poses,”
he said.

If you’re experiencing back pain, you can talk to one of the specialists at Texas Back Institute.
Just call 800.247.BACK (2225) and ask to speak with Jaclyn McDaniel. For information on
scoliosis or other diseases and injuries of the spine, visit our website at www.texasback.com.

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DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016