If you have scoliosis and are curious about using yoga to improve strength, reduce discomfort, or support spinal alignment, you’re not alone. In this article, PSSE-certified physical therapist, Cori Reynolds, PT, DPT, MSHA, explores yoga for scoliosis, including which poses are safe, which to avoid, and how a guided practice can complement your treatment plan.

As a physical therapist specializing in scoliosis treatment, I am often asked by patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) whether they should try yoga. Yoga, like other kinds of exercise, can cause small injuries such as sprains or strains. This can happen even to people who practice yoga often [1]. Because of this, it is important to be mindful when trying a new type of exercise so that you stay safe, healthy, and strong.

Is yoga a treatment for scoliosis?

There is very little research on using yoga to treat Idiopathic Scoliosis (IS). Most studies show that Schroth or other scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) work better than general exercise [2]. Some research shows that healthy people who practice yoga with breathing exercises for 10 weeks or more improve their lung function. This suggests yoga may help with breathing [3]. One small study looked at certain yoga poses for teens with scoliosis and found some improvement in spinal curves [4]. However, many participants did not finish the study, and the length of treatment was very different for each person. Because of this, we need more high-quality studies to know if yoga truly helps reduce scoliosis curves.

What are the benefits of yoga?

Many people practice yoga not to change their curve, but to improve breathing, flexibility, strength, and balance. Yoga can also help with the mind-body connection and help with reducing your stress [5]. For these reasons, yoga may still be helpful. However, people with scoliosis should get guidance about which poses are safe because scoliosis changes how the spine moves in three directions.

How does scoliosis change how the spine moves?

Idiopathic scoliosis usually affects the middle (thoracic) and lower (lumbar) parts of the spine. It can also change the position of the pelvis. Each part of the spine is designed to move in different ways. The thoracic spine allows more twisting and side (lateral) bending. The lumbar spine mostly bends forward (flexion) and backward (extension).

Scoliosis usually starts during growth. Some of the vertebrae (back bones) and discs grow unevenly and become slightly wedge-shaped. Muscles and ligaments also change as they adapt to the curved spine. These changes can result in some parts of the spine becoming stiff, limiting movement in certain directions. In general, the larger the curve, the greater these changes are.

If someone has had spinal fusion surgery, the fused bones do not move. This limits overall spinal movement, depending on how many bones were fused. The areas above and below the fusion may move more to make up for it, which can sometimes cause problems. It is important not to push a scoliosis spine into extreme positions, because this can stress the tissues and cause pain or instability.

What yoga poses should people with scoliosis avoid?

People with moderate or severe curves, especially those who have had fusion surgery, should avoid (or use extra caution with) yoga poses that involve deep twisting, bending backward, or bending forward to the extreme. Below are a few examples: