Scoliosis Tools: What’s Worth Buying?
Google “scoliosis care” or any related term and you’ll end up with pages of tools and equipment. These products may claim to do everything from relieving scoliosis pain to curing your curve.
So, which products are legit? Which scoliosis tools are worth investing in, and which ones are a waste of money — or even dangerous to use? Read on to find out.
Scoliosis Tools to Avoid
First, let’s talk about some of the tools I don’t recommend. These are products that I believe have little to no value in terms of treating scoliosis or reducing chronic pain.
Posture Equipment
There are several different products that fall into this category. One of the models I see advertised a lot is a barrel that’s supposed to help correct your posture. Generally, the idea is that you will lie in a backbend position (or sometimes on your side) to help counteract your spinal curve.
The problem with this tool is that it doesn’t account for any of your secondary curves. For example, if you’re lying over the barrel focusing on your main convexity, the barrel counteracts that curve, but it pushes your spine farther into your secondary (concave, in this example) curves.
Other types of posture correctors, like shirts with built-in tension around the shoulders or harnesses that buzz when you move out of an ideal posture, aren’t quite as bad. They can be helpful reminders to correct your posture, and they don’t rely on anything other than your own strength. But they won’t cure your scoliosis.
Hip Flexor Release Tools
Another type of product I often see is something that claims to release tight hip flexors. The one I'm thinking of is a piece of U-shaped plastic with two prongs that you’re supposed to lay on or push into tight hip flexors.
The problem is that the tool puts an enormous amount of pressure on the hip flexor and everything else that’s around it, including internal organs that don’t do well with that kind of pressure. When you’re treating an area of the body, it’s important to use a similar level of pressure as that part of the body — and these hard plastic devices definitely don’t fit the bill.
Foam Rollers
People often recommend foam rollers to scoliosis patients. The idea is to use one in a similar way as the barrel — by draping your back over it in an effort to help correct your posture. Like the other tools I don’t recommend, this one is just too harsh. It applies so much pressure that the potential problems (e.g., flattening part of the rib cage) far outweigh any potential benefits.
Inversion Table
An inversion table is perhaps the most controversial item on this list of products to avoid. You secure your feet on one end of the table, and then it tilts so your feet are higher than your head. The idea is to allow gravity to elongate (instead of compress) your spine.
On paper, an inversion table looks great! Its entire purpose is to elongate the spine — and isn’t that what we want when we’re treating scoliosis? Yes, spinal elongation is extremely important, but I don’t recommend using an inversion table to achieve it. One of the main reasons is that an inversion table often causes the rebound effect.
Using an inversion table to achieve a “full-hang” position really stretches out every part of your body. And it might feel amazing in the moment, but when your body returns to a normal position (e.g., standing up) the muscles have to work harder to stabilize all those areas that got “stretched.” The rebound effect ends up making your muscles tighter than before.
Helpful Scoliosis Tools
Now let’s cover some of the props and equipment that are worth buying — things that can help you manage your scoliosis symptoms and support your spine in a safe, healthy way.
Pull-up Bar
Instead of using an inversion table to elongate your spine, try a pull-up bar. These are generally affordable, and they don’t take up much space. You can probably find a place for one in your house, and then you can use it a few times a day to counteract the spinal compression that happens during normal activities.
Rice Bags
Another good option to gently correct your posture is to use rice bags (something that’s common in the Schroth Method). You would lay on them in a similar way as the barrel or foam roller: placing them under your convexity to gently encourage your spine in the right direction. Because the rice bags are smaller than those other tools, it’s easier to target specific areas of the spine without pushing into your concavities. Plus, they’re more gentle and comfortable to use.
Franklin Balls
These tools are a good alternative to those overly firm U-shaped products for hip flexors. Franklin Balls are gentler and have a similar level of softness as your internal organs, so they’re a safer choice for releasing tightness in the hip flexors and other parts of the body.
I definitely recommend investing in a set of Franklin Balls. You can use them for more than just the hip flexors: opening up the side body, counteracting kyphosis, and reducing menstrual cramps.
Coregeous Ball
Another type of scoliosis tool I recommend having is called a Coregeous Ball. It’s similar to a Pilates or gym ball, but the surface is textured instead of smooth. It can help reduce stress and provides great support for your nervous system. You can use this tool for abdominal massage or during your Pilates for scoliosis exercises.
Lacrosse Balls
I don’t recommend using lacrosse balls on any soft areas of your body. Use the Franklin or Coregeous Balls for that. But firm lacrosse balls can be great for releasing pressure in your feet. You can also use them for muscle release in other parts of the body, as long as you are using them against a wall and not on the floor (so there’s less pressure).
Yoga Straps/Velcro Belts
These straps are often used in Schroth exercises to help with elongation. It’s best to learn how to use these particular tools from a scoliosis specialist. So look for a physical therapist who specializes in scoliosis or a Schroth therapist.
Silicone Cups
I like to use soft silicone cups for cupping therapy to relieve pain, mobilize tight areas, and open up concavities. Unlike the glass cups, these are gentler, and you can move them around the skin to target certain areas.
Evaluating Scoliosis Tools and Treatments
We covered many tools in this post, but there are more out there. So what’s the best way to evaluate a scoliosis product to determine whether it’s worth the money? Always look for something that has the same level of firmness as the area of the body it’s designed for. Avoid anything that’s invasive or that makes you feel worse after use. “No pain, no gain” is not a good mantra for scoliosis care.
If you feel like your normal daily routine contributes to chronic scoliosis pain, it’s a sign that your spine isn’t receiving the support it needs. Fortunately, you can change that through minor adjustments to your daily activities. How? That’s exactly what you’ll learn in The Scoliosis Movement Bootcamp. This 6-month virtual program covers 24 habits that are easy to implement and very effective in reducing daily scoliosis pain. Join The Scoliosis Movement Bootcamp for less than the cost of an X-ray!
If you want more information on scoliosis and ways to reduce pain and other symptoms, listen to my podcast, Ahead of the Curve. Subscribe to get every episode when it airs!
