Scoliosis and the Role of Fascia by Erhard Rohrmüller

Fascia envelopes every muscle, bone and organ of our body. It is also the tissue that connects all our body parts.

Scoliosis can develop in an early age do to postural patterning while standing, sitting or sleeping or movement habits that you acquired over time.

Also injuries from sports, accidents, trauma can induce scoliosis, kyphosis or lordosis.

Here are just a few muscle groups at the anterior of your thoracic area that can impair your posture:

Transversus Thoracis, Semispinalis Cervicus, Multifidi, Levatores, Costarum Longi, Multifidi, Psoas Major, Longissimus Thorasics, Splenius Cervicis, Iliocostalis Thorasis, Seratus Posterior Inferior & Superior, Rhomboid Major, Latissimus Dorsi, Trapezius, Quadratus Lumborum.

Since Psoas Major and Quadratus Lumborum have attachments to the spine, chronic tension from the Lumbar area could transfer a distortion to the mid and upper section of the spine on opposite side.

This is a compensatory effect due to chronic tightening.

For instance, if you habitually prefer to shift your weight to one leg while you are standing, the kinetic chain of your Fascia will compensate and move a section of your thoracic spine slightly laterally, and your cervical spine compensates slightly laterally in the opposite direction.

Being left or right dominant could also effect your posture and therefore your spine.

Also your agonist and antagonist muscle groups of your hip and  thoracic area could be out of balance do to habitual postural patterning.

Here are some suggestion for an antidote:

1. Develop your left and right side of your hip and torso equally.
2. Physical therapy, Yoga, Pilates, Massage, or a personal Trainer can help with that.
3. In the meantime you can practice on your own immediately doing lateral bends either sitting, standing, or laying on your side (side crunch).
4. Find out which side is easier for you, focus on the side that is more challenging for you.
5. Do 12 repetitions of 3 Sets twice a day.

In order to change any imprint of your body you need to change the software of your brain, meaning you need to embrace some corrective exercise!

The Motor Cortex of the brain is  controlling all your movements. In order to change the software it is imperative to do corrective exercise.

Since Fascia, muscles and connective tissues retain neurons that communicate to your brain, it is important to be aware of your posture while standing, sitting, resting or in motion.

By being mindful where you are in time and space you are creating new software for your brain.

I hope that was somewhat helpful.

Erhard

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