Scoliosis Myth Busting: Does scoliosis get worse with age?

Does scoliosis get worse with age? Is this fact or fiction?

This is entirely false; a myth! However, I’m constantly asked if scoliosis gets worse as you age.

How does scoliosis get worse with age?

Most people are told that after they’re done growing, and their growth plates are closed, that they won’t have to think about managing their scoli anymore. That is false.

Our bodies are always changing. Our hormones change, we move our bodies differently, and put different stresses on our bodies as we age. Several factors can contribute to the possible progression of scoli in your adult body, including how your scoliosis presents in your body and how well you care for it. I know this from personal experience.

I was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 14 with a 17 degree in my thoracic spine. In my 20s, I gave birth to two healthy boys over a two year period. When my youngest son was about a year old, I decided to have an x-ray taken of my spine to put in the book I was working on, The Beautiful Scoliotic Back. To my horror, my scoliosis got worse with age. My upper curve had increased to 35 degrees, and I now had a lumbar curve of 25 degrees. When I was younger I was not told that my scoli curvature could increase after I was done growing. It turns out it can, especially during times when your hormones fluctuate—like during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause.

In my 30s, I decided to prioritize my body, and I was able to get my scoli back under control. Even though my scoli got worse with age, when I had time to focus on my body, I was able to decrease my curvature and pain, improving my quality of life. Currently, my top curve is in the upper teens and my lower curve is less than 10 degrees. Since scoliosis is defined as a lateral curve of the spine of 10 degrees or more, I technically now only have scoliosis in my thoracic spine. There was nothing magical about me decreasing my curves. I put together my dream team, figured out my scoli schedule, and stuck to it.

My dream team consists of teaching myself Pilates and Gyrotonic lessons, taking private and group Pilates classes from teachers at my studio, and having regular appointments with a structural integrator and a neuromuscular massage therapist.

For my scoli schedule, I learned to listen to my body and figured out what my scoli needed. I know I have to move many days a week otherwise I lock up. I also learned which movements sooth my scoli and help it untwist the best. Finally, I figured out that I need body work every two weeks. If I keep on that schedule, my scoli doesn’t really bother me and more importantly, it doesn’t control my life.

It wasn’t rocket science that helped my scoliosis, it was regular, daily movement and help from a few key professionals. You can do this too!

My scoliosis got worse with age. How do I help my body now?

So your scoliosis got worse with age. Don’t let that be the end of your scoli story. You can rewrite it and decrease your scoliosis as an adult. I have found it is never too late to start. You have to own your scoli care—otherwise your scoliosis will own you.

To start owning your scoliosis, figure out what movements your body likes. If you don’t know, start with the multiple scoliosis workouts I’ve created that people around the world with scoli love. Do them often. I also recommend keeping a record of how you feel after each workout so you can figure out exactly what movements your body likes and doesn’t like. If you’d like an additional tool to measure how your body responds, I suggest a scoliometer (more about that here).

Next, start the quest to find a great manual therapist in your town. You’re not looking for a massage therapist that you would find at a spa (although that does feel wonderful). You’re looking for someone who can help unwind some pretty tight tissue in your body. If you’d like more guidance and tips on how to start searching, check out the starting point series, specifically video 5.

If you want in-person guidance on what movements your body needs, come visit my staff and me at Spiral Spine Pilates Studio in Nashville, TN. We offer a special Scoliosis Retreat multiple times a year where kids and adults with scoliosis focus on caring for their body. You’ll learn a lot, have fun, and realize you’re not on this journey all by yourself.

Your scoli didn’t end up the way it is currently in one day, and therefore, it’s not going to go away in a day either. Be diligent. Learn to love movement. Listen to your body—it talks to you all the time, my guess is you just need to listen to it.

So the answer to does scoliosis get worse with age, can be yes. But don’t let that fact control your life; instead, get scoli strong.

To read more about how to put together your own dream team and scoli schedule, pick up a copy of my book I Have Scoliosis; Now What?. If you’d like our help, book a virtual or in-person lesson with us for guidance on your movement and finding your dream team!

If you’re interested in more scoliosis resources, I have lists tailored to people in specific scoliosis  populations (kids, practitioners, fused) on my website.