Think scoliosis only affects children? That is a common misconception. Even in adulthood, a lateral curvature of the spine can cause symptoms. You may notice that your back is getting tired faster, that you are crooked or that pain is recurring. Sometimes the abnormality has existed for years, sometimes it arises gradually due to wear and tear or long-term strain. Whatever the cause, scoliosis can increasingly affect your daily life unnoticed. In this blog, you will discover which scoliosis symptoms are common in adults, when to be alert and what you can do to reduce or prevent symptoms.
What is scoliosis in adults?
At scoliosis the spine is not straight, but curves. This can cause a crooked position of shoulders or hips and uneven strain on muscles and joints. With scoliosis symptoms in adults, we often see that symptoms develop gradually. For example, you may notice that your back gets tired faster or that one side of your body holds more tension. Because these changes are slow, they are often attributed to age, stress or a sedentary job.
Scoliosis symptoms in adults you need to take seriously
Symptoms vary from person to person, but many adults recognise one or more of the following signs:
- persistent back pain or neck pain
- a nagging, tired feeling in the lower back
- stiffness when standing up or after sitting for a long time
- misalignment of shoulders or pelvis
- radiation to buttock or leg
- shortness of breath with greater curvature
These symptoms may be mild at first, but often increase when the underlying cause is not addressed.
What happens if you do nothing
When scoliosis is left untreated, the strain on your spine can increase. Muscles become overloaded, joints wear out faster and pain symptoms become more persistent. You may find that daily activities like walking, working or playing sports take more and more energy.
Some people imperceptibly adjust their posture to avoid pain. This creates a vicious cycle of tension and compensation, causing symptoms to spread to neck, shoulders or hips.
Timely counselling can often slow or even reverse this development.
What physiotherapy can do for you
With scoliosis, we look not only at the curvature itself, but especially at how your body deals with it. During an intake, we analyse your posture, muscle balance and movement pattern. Based on this, we draw up a personal treatment plan.
With targeted exercises, we improve stability and muscle strength, reduce strain and work on a more relaxed and efficient posture. You will also receive practical advice for work, sport and daily exercise.
The goal is clear: less pain, more control over your body and preventing symptoms from getting worse.
Don't dwell on doubt for too long
Do you recognise yourself in the described scoliosis symptoms in adults? Then don't wait for the symptoms to get worse. The sooner you understand your situation, the better you can influence recovery.
Want to know if your back pain is related to scoliosis and what you can do about it? Feel free to take contact on with our practice by calling 085-5000333 or e-mail to info@friskfysio.nl. Together, we look at an approach that suits your body and your life.
