Pilates Applied To Scoliosis in A Teenage Client

PILATES APPLIED TO SCOLIOSIS IN A TEENAGE CLIENT
A BASI Pilates Program designed to help correct a serious spinal condition on a 16 year-old girl
Genevive ACQUIER
October 2013
Comprehensive Teacher Training Course (CTTC)
Paris
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T his paper presents the case study of my 16 year old step-daughter
named Hortense CHAMPY. She was diagnosed with scoliosis at the
age of 14. As a result of this painful spinal condition she has to wear
what we call in France a corset for a minimum of 8 hours a day,
usually in the evenings and throughout her sleep. She has regular
sessions with a physio who gives her a series of movements and also
makes necessary adjustments to her corset. Tis plastic apparatus looks
like an armour which keeps her torso tight and straight in supine and
seated positions.
During her two-month school holidays last summer I decided to
prepare a Pilates program aimed at relieving her from the pain
she feels almost daily particularly in the shoulder region.
Pilates exercises have been used by physiotherapists and Pilates
instructors to strengthen weak core muscles and stretches the part
of the trunk which is tight due to the S curve of the spine.
Pilates is considered very safe and ultimately very efective in giving
some control back to people by educating them on how to work in
fexion and extension. Hortenses case was a great way to learn more
about this condition.
First I proceeded to give her an evaluation based on my observations
during her Roll-down. I previously had a good look at her X-rays to
check how bad her S curve was and which was her weaker side.
Attached are some copies of her X-Rays taken at diferent stages
of her treatment.
1
T he proposed program for the frst 1 10 sessions was partly inspired by
Kathy Corey Mat Class No. 707 on Pilates Anytime.
Equipment Exercise Objectives and Benefts
Mat Roll Down Alignment of the hips
Spinal articulation

Mat Pelvic Curl Spinal articulation and stretch
Pelvic lumbar stabilization
Variation with crossed legs x 4 (both sides twice, one more time on the right side to emphasize
the asymmetry needed to create a more balanced body).
Mat Spine Twist Supine Spinal rotation
Mat Leg Circles Hip joint mobility and stretch
Mat Hundred Prep Abdominal strength
Mat Roll Up Spinal mobility and stability
Abdominal strength

Mat Roll-like-a-ball Shoulder and trunk stabilization
Variation with crossed legs again.
Reformer Footwork Activation of internal core
Pelvic foor stability and awareness
Reformer Hundred Prep Abdominal strength
Reformer Tilt on Short Box Oblique control and stretch
Pelvic stabilization
Reformer Twist on Short Box Abdominal strength
Trunk stabilization
Reformer Frog Pelvic lumbar stabilization
Circles (Up, Down) Pelvic lumbar stabilization
Openings Hip adductor stretch and strength
2
Ladder Barrel Shoulder Stretches Shoulder extensor and fexor
1 & 2 strength
Mat Child Pose Spine elongation/Stretch of the
lower back
Cadillac Monkey Original Spinal stretch and mobility
Cadillac Tower Prep Spinal articulation
Hamstring stretch
Mat Swan Prep Back extensor strength
and stretch
Variation with the extension of one arm up. More repetitions on the weaker side.
Mat Cat Stretch Lumbar spine stretch
Mat Rest Position Lumbar spine stretch
Te Rest Position was an efective end to our session as I tried to elongate her spine further by
placing one hand on her lower back and the other up the spine to rest on the crown of her head.
Afer the 10th session I added more exercises aimed at increasing her shoulder girdle mobility
and function.
Using light hand weights and lying supine on the Cadillac with a neck support legs bent, feet on
the mat hip distance apart I asked her to abduct her arms until a stretch was felt accross the front
of the chest.
Ten I asked her to move her arms in the opposite direction until the lef arm was aligned beside
the lef hip and the right arm was aligned with the right ear. Exercises also done later using the
foam roller to lie supine on instead of the mat of the Cadillac.
Finally I asked her to stand near a wall so one of her arms could be extended in lateral rotation
with the palm on the wall. Te hand was just below the shoulder and her body was turned a little
away from the arm. By pressing the palm on the wall she could gently stretch her shoulder.
Ten I asked her to move her feet and body away more from the wall and repeat the stretch.
Each side was done 3 times.
3
CONCLUSION
Once detected, living and dealing with scoliosis will always be part of
ones life. By integrating some Pilates movements into ones daily rou-
tine one can expect some benefts and changes as there is no quick fx.
In her book Teaching Pilates for Postural Faults, Illness and Injury the
author rightly says : It is doubtful that exercises alone correct scoliosis.
A vigorous and thoroughly supervised exercise programme may re-edu-
cate patient and muscles so as to correct a functional curve.
Te muscles forces that can be applied are of a relatively low amplitude
and frequency and usually of short duration, and they are rarely working
at a signifcant mechanical advantage for correction of the scoliosic spine.
Exercise should not be relied upon to hold or correct a curve when used
alone.
In Hortenses case Pilates has certainly strengthened her core. By doing
a specifc Pilates routine regularly her improved strength will help re-
duce some of her compensatory holding patterns and give her greater
overall comfort.
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4
Bibliography/Research Material
1 . Body Arts and Science International
Study Guide Rael Isacowitz
Mat Movement Analysis Workbook
Reformer Movement Analysis Workbook
4 . Pilates Anytime Videos
5 . Pilates for Scoliosis by Suzanne Martin, PT, DPT
4. Teaching Pilates for Postural Faults, Illness and Injury
A practical guide, by Jane Paterson
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5
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X-ray 1
Hortense with her corset.
6
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X-ray 2 - Hortense without
her corset at the beginning
of her scoliosis treatment
7
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X-ray 3 - Hortense without
her corset afer 16 months
scoliosis treatment
8
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PILATES APPLIED TO SCOLIOSIS IN A TEENAGE CLIENT

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