When it comes to living with scoliosis, no two journeys are exactly alike. Some people might not have ever noticed their spine’s curve if their doctor hadn’t pointed it out — but for others, having this condition can mean battling postural issues along with daily aches and pains.
Regular doctor’s visits are a key step in monitoring your spine’s curve and preventing it from getting worse. But if you’re looking for natural ways to manage your daily discomfort, could massage therapy help?
Read on to learn about the potential benefits of massage for scoliosis, plus some commonly asked questions and tips for starting safely.
Scoliosis Causes and Symptoms
Scoliosis is defined as an abnormal lateral (or side-to-side) curve in the spine. It can happen at any age, but many people learn that they have it at between 10 and 15 years old.
It’s also fairly common, affecting 2–3 percent of the population. And while it impacts people of all genders, women are up to eight times more likely to have it progress to the point that it requires treatment.
Signs of scoliosis may include:
- Posture that leans more to one side over the other
- Uneven shoulder blades that stick out on one or both sides
- Changes in skin texture over the affected areas of the spine
- Misalignment between your head and pelvis
- An uneven waist or rib cage
Because it changes your body’s structure, scoliosis can also affect your organs, nerves, and even your lung function over time. So, if you notice one or more of the above symptoms, be sure to schedule a visit with your doctor.
Treatments
There’s no known cure for scoliosis, but the good news is that there are treatments that can help you manage the symptoms and progression of the curve. Your doctor may recommend:
- Checking in every few months to monitor the degree of the curve
- Taking medication to relieve pain as needed
- Exercises to strengthen your core and support your spine
- A back brace to keep your posture in better alignment
- Surgery, in rare cases
While most cases of scoliosis are idiopathic (meaning the exact cause isn’t known), there can sometimes be another underlying condition affecting the spine. In these cases, your treatment plan might look a little different to also address this root cause.
How Do Complementary Therapies Fit Into Scoliosis Care?
For those with chronic conditions, complementary therapies can act as an extra line of defense against pain and stress, all while boosting overall well-being. And for people living with scoliosis, options like yoga, acupuncture, or massage can certainly have their place in a care routine.
Whether you’re using massage on its own or in combination with other natural tools, just remember to:
- Stick to your core treatment plan. Alternative tools like massage can help you feel better day-to-day, but they can’t treat or fix a spinal curve.
- Talk to your doctor. Not all natural options are right for everyone, so be sure to check in before starting any new therapy.
- Track how you feel. By keeping a mental note of your body’s response after massage or other complementary therapies, it can make it easier to figure out what works for you (and what doesn’t).
- Stay adaptable. Your condition may change in the long run, and your needs may, too. So, remember to listen to your body and be open to changing, adding, or adjusting things as you go.
5 Benefits of Massage for Scoliosis: For Pain, Stress, & More
If you’re considering trying massage for scoliosis, here are five potential health benefits to know about:
Muscle Tension Relief
Whether it’s for everyday muscle tension or scoliosis-related back pain, massage can be a powerful tool for managing pain and stiffness.
How does it work? In short, its gentle pressure can soothe tight muscles by supporting circulation and breaking up trigger points (or knots). Plus, a trained massage therapist can help identify and address muscles that might be overstretched or contracted as a result of your spine’s curve.
Beyond working on the muscles directly, massage can also trigger a whole-body relaxation response that helps ease muscle tension on a broader level.
Mental Well-Being
It might not come as a surprise to you that scoliosis can increase a person’s risk of stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. The good news? Massage’s benefits can go beyond physical pain and also extend to emotional health.
By tapping into the body’s relaxation response — or the parasympathetic nervous system — it can help ease feelings of stress and anxiety. It can also trigger the release of feel-good endorphins, which can lift your mood and lead to a greater sense of general well-being.
Mind-Body Awareness
When living with scoliosis, bodily awareness is important. Staying tuned in with your body can help you:
- Detect new aches and pains earlier on — helping you address issues before they get worse.
- Notice when your mobility feels restricted or off-balance, which may indicate that your scoliosis has changed.
- Stay more aware of your posture throughout the day, which can help you stay in healthier positions overall.
Another surprising benefit of massage for scoliosis is that it may help heighten this sense of mind-body awareness. Whether working on your own or with a therapist, it gives you the chance to pay attention to your body’s response to pressure — which can reveal imbalances, stiffness, or painful areas that you might not have noticed otherwise.
Better Sleep
When you have scoliosis, getting enough good sleep can be challenging. In fact, one small study suggests that those with scoliosis often deal with poor sleep quality and the daytime fatigue that can come with it.
Luckily, a nighttime massage session can help you reduce muscle tension, relax, and soothe pain before bedtime — all of which can make it easier to get a good night’s rest.
Being well-rested doesn’t just boost your overall health — it also gives your body the chance to reduce inflammation and heal injuries. It can also help support:
- Your mental well-being
- Your ability to cope with stress
- Your overall energy levels
- Pain management
Healthy Mobility
Scoliosis often brings imbalances and muscle tightness that can leave you feeling stiff and restricted. Thankfully, massage can be a great tool for easing tension and helping you move more freely.
One 2021 review of studies from the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies looked at the effects of myofascial release — a slow, moderate type of massage — on people with back pain and idiopathic scoliosis. Of the 17 studies looked at, 12 showed that massage had a positive impact on flexibility and/or stiffness.
Of course, more research is needed to know just how much massage could boost mobility when living with scoliosis. But with gentle, consistent massage to the right muscles, you may notice a positive difference in how your body feels and moves.
What Is the Best Type of Massage for Scoliosis?
In short, the best type of massage for scoliosis isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it will ultimately come down to your preferences and what feels best to you. But if you’re not sure where to start, here are some well-known options to consider asking your therapist about:
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is an incredibly calming type of massage that typically focuses on the head, neck, and spine.
This type of massage is gentle and noninvasive, meaning it’s a great choice if you’re new to massage and want to test how it feels for you. It also tends to involve muscle groups that those with scoliosis may want to focus most on — like those near the shoulder blades or upper back.
While the research on CST is limited so far, it may offer benefits like:
- In-the-moment relief from upper back and neck pain
- Improved emotional well-being
- Stress relief and deep relaxation
Swedish Massage
Whether you’re after better mental well-being, pain relief, or a combination of both, Swedish massage can be another great type of massage to opt for. It’s a popular modality that uses light, flowing strokes to support the body’s natural circulatory patterns, all while helping address overstretched or contracted muscles.
Like other gentle types of massage, its benefits may include:
- Promoting healthy circulation
- Back pain relief
- Better mood
- Stress relief
Deep Tissue Massage
Unlike Swedish massage, deep tissue uses more intense pressure to target musculoskeletal issues — like trigger points or chronic stiffness. While it’s great for honing in on specific pain points, it may not feel as purely relaxing as other forms of massage.
With that being said, it can still offer plenty of benefits. An experienced deep tissue massage therapist can help support:
- Balance and coordination
- Better posture
- Flexibility and mobility
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a lesser-talked-about type of massage for scoliosis, but it can be an excellent choice for many. It uses slow, sustained pressure (often in the form of rolling) that not only soothes tight muscles, but also breaks up adhesions in the fascia around them.
If you’re curious about myofascial release, you can certainly ask your massage therapist to try it in your next session. But if you’d like to make it a core part of your self-care routine, you can also ask your doctor if myofascial release tools could work for you. Some good options to try include:
- Smooth foam rollers, which are helpful when you want gentle, even pressure across your muscles.
- Textured foam rollers, which can provide deeper, more targeted pressure for adhesions and trigger points.
- A massage ball (or a simple tennis/lacrosse ball), which can help you target specific knots and other small, tense areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to try massage for scoliosis but have questions about how it all works? Here are some of the most frequent ones — and their answers — to help you stay safe while getting the most out of your sessions:
How Can You Find a Massage Therapist for Scoliosis?
The best way to find a good massage therapist is to check with your healthcare team first. In some cases, they may be able to refer you to a trusted therapist who has experience working with patients with scoliosis.
If that isn’t an option, you can also search “massage clinic in (your city),” and call to explain your situation. Let them know that you have scoliosis and that you’re looking to see if massage can help improve your overall well-being. Being upfront and open about your health will make it easier for them to connect you with the right therapist for your specific needs.
What Should You Tell Your Massage Therapist?
When you step into your first massage session, don’t be afraid to share important details about your diagnosis with your therapist. The more they know, the better they can adjust their techniques to suit your needs. Some things to mention include:
- A little about your scoliosis, such as how severe your spine curve is, whether or not you’ve had surgery, and any sensitive spots they should be aware of.
- Your daily symptoms. Does back pain get in the way of your sleep or daily activities? Is your mobility limited by stiff or achy muscles? Describe the painful areas the best you can to help your therapist tailor the session to your needs.
- Other treatments you take part in, like chiropractic or physical therapy.
- Your comfort level when it comes to pressure. Deep tissue can work well for some, but massage doesn’t have to be intense to be incredibly soothing and effective.
Can You Use Home Massage Tools?
Yes! With the OK from your doctor, certain home massage tools like the MedMassager Body Massager Plus can make it easier to get restorative massage regularly. The plus side of using a tool like this is that it can offer relief on a daily basis, and it can be more cost-effective if you want to stick to massage long-term.
Its user-friendly design not only makes it easy to use on the back muscles, but it’s also convenient for other areas of the body that might affect your alignment, such as:
- Gluteal muscles
- Hamstrings
- Quadriceps
Is Massage Safe for Someone With Scoliosis?
Massage is typically gentle and noninvasive, and it can be safe for many people with scoliosis. With that being said, it may not be the right option for people with certain conditions. Check with your doctor ahead of time if you have:
- A history of blood clots
- Severe or painful scoliosis
- Had surgery or have hardware like rods or plates in the back
- A current infection
- A current or recent injury
- Kidney or liver conditions
- Heart conditions
- Any health condition that hasn’t been approved for massage in the past
Other Tools for Managing Scoliosis
Although massage is a wonderful self-care tool, it’s still key to work with your healthcare team to ensure you’re managing your scoliosis the right way.
The most important step is to check in with your doctor regularly to catch changes in your spine’s curve early on. This way, you can know exactly when it’s time to adjust — or add to — your current treatment plan.
Aside from that, your doctor can help you explore other remedies and treatments that could make a difference in your comfort level. For example, they can help you decide if you might be a good candidate for options like a back brace, physical therapy, or even surgery.
Physical Therapy for Scoliosis
Physical therapy can help tackle a range of musculoskeletal health issues, including scoliosis. Of course, it may not be able to reverse the curve in your spine — but it can strengthen your core and back muscles, which can support your spine as a whole. Plus, it can help boost your mobility and overall well-being.
If you try physical therapy for scoliosis, your PT can help you find exercises and stretches to:
- Support posture and alignment
- Reduce pain
- Improve balance and control
- Promote better breathing and lung function
The Takeaway
You’re certainly not alone if you’ve been feeling sore or stiff because of scoliosis. While it’s important to stick to your prescribed treatment plan, it may also be worth asking your doctor whether massage could bring you some extra relief.
From easing pain to supporting mobility and curbing stress, the benefits of massage could mean a positive difference in your day-to-day life. To get started, you can ask your doctor for a referral to an experienced massage therapist, or even ask about trying home massage tools.
The MedMassager Body Massager Plus is one trusted option that combines the power of oscillation and vibration for deep relief in the comfort of your home — and a bonus is that it’s HSA and FSA-eligible. Pick yours up today, or learn more about its many uses here.
