The Link Between Scoliosis and the Lymphatic System

Mar 29

Today, we’re talking about the lymphatic system and how it’s linked to scoliosis. Most people don’t think about their lymphatic system too often. Or they’ve just heard a vague reference, like an article about how dry brushing is good for the lymph nodes.

And it’s not much better in the healthcare space. Many healthcare and wellness professionals don’t talk about the lymphatic system much, or they only bring it up in the context of a severe issue, such as lymphedema.

But the lymphatic system is extremely important, and everyone could benefit from knowing more about it. And if you have scoliosis (or treat patients with scoliosis) it’s crucial to understand the link between scoliosis and the lymphatic system. And if you struggle with sleep, chronic pain, or an autoimmune disorder, you could also benefit from learning more about the lymphatic system.

Most of my knowledge about the lymphatic system comes from a recent course from Dr. Perry Nickleson (of Stop Chasing Pain), a chiropractor specializing in chronic pain and the lymphatic system. I’d highly recommend his courses, whether you’re a healthcare professional or you just want to learn more about your body so you can advocate for yourself.

What Is the Lymphatic System?

Take a minute to think about your body as an aquarium or a fish tank (I know it sounds strange, but go with me for a minute). You’d want the water in your aquarium to be clear and pure, right? But food, stress, impure air, and other elements of the environment we live in introduce impurities and toxins into your body’s fluids. That aquarium water becomes muddy and cloudy — ick!

That’s where your lymphatic system comes in — it’s the filtration system for your body’s aquarium! The lymph’s job is to get rid of all those toxins. But it’s easy for that filtration system to become clogged, and when that happens, your body starts holding on to toxins because there’s no efficient way to flush them out.

To fix this issue, you need to do some deep cleansing of your lymphatic system so it can start filtering out all those toxins again. A healthy lymph system can reduce inflammation and improve sleep, concentration, and weight management.

Your Lymphatic System and Scoliosis

So, how does caring for your lymphatic system help reduce your scoliosis symptoms?

Better proprioception

For starters, a healthy lymph system supports good proprioception, which helps your balance.

Let’s think about the fish tank again. When the water is cloudy, your brain has difficulty understanding where everything is and what’s happening in your body. And scoliosis also impairs your proprioception, so when you have scoliosis and a clogged lymphatic system, your proprioception is severely impacted.

Your brain gets a “safe” signal when you improve your lymphatic system. It doesn’t feel clouded or impaired, so it’s able to handle other tasks (like balance) better.

And the process of unclogging the lymphatic system also helps improve your proprioception. Lymph tends to build up in the joints, and you can help reduce that inflammation by massaging those areas. Simply doing that helps your brain forge a stronger connection to those areas, which can improve your proprioception even more.

Lower inflammation

When your lymphatic system is clear, your brain moves out of that “fight or flight” state, helping you feel calmer and more secure. And when your body feels safe, it starts to reduce “safety measures” like inflammation and fat retention. Many people notice that weight management is easier once they start caring for their lymphatic system.

Reduced pain

When you’re caring for your lymphatic system, your brain feels safer and allows your body to start relaxing. That allows your muscles to unclench and relax, which can reduce chronic pain in your muscles and joints.

Improved range of motion

A well-functioning lymphatic system makes it easier for your body to move properly, which is especially important if you have scoliosis. When your range of motion is better, you can exercise more effectively, which helps improve your posture and alignment, reducing the effects of your curve.

Less stress

If your lymphatic system is clogged, your body is constantly in a state of having to fight off toxins. It’s stressful for your brain, and that stress affects your physical and mental health. Supporting your lymphatic system reduces stress, making you feel better emotionally and physically.

How to Care for Your Lymphatic System

Here are some quick tips for taking care of your lymphatic system. (If you want more detailed information, follow Dr. Perry on Instagram, take his Lymphatic Mojo course, or schedule a consultation with me.)

Deep lymphatic reset: This is a specific procedure that helps you assess and release your lymphatic system. It’s crucial to follow the correct sequence, which is going from your low-pressure regions to your high-pressure regions. That means starting at your collarbone and then going to your head and neck. After that, you continue down the body — the further away from your heart, the higher the pressure is.
Self-assessment: After you go through the deep lymphatic reset procedure, take some time to see how you’re feeling. You might feel detox symptoms such as a headache, nausea, dizziness, or lightheadedness. If your lymphatic system is severely clogged, these symptoms could be very intense. You might also experience a temporary increase in pain, especially in areas of inflammation. That will calm down as your system recovers from the reset procedure.

Once you’re detoxed and reset your lymphatic system, you can help maintain it through healthy routines like dry brushing and gua sha. Another great option is structured water, which is water that’s had some lemon or sea salt added to increase the pH level. The best time to drink structured water is following lymphatic work.

Don’t Neglect Your Lymphatic System!

Most scoliosis treatment routines focus on targeted exercises for the spine, which are extremely important. But it’s also critical to pursue other aspects of overall wellness, such as caring for your lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system affects all other parts of your body significantly. When it’s clogged, your body can’t get rid of toxins effectively, so you tend to experience more chronic pain, fatigue, and inflammation, which most scoliosis patients already experience.

If you want to learn exactly how to manage your scoliosis symptoms effectively through lymphatic work as well as targeted exercise routines, join The Scoliosis Strength Collective! This is my virtual small-group coaching experience that gives you the knowledge and support you need to understand your curve and reduce your scoliosis symptoms. Get all the details about The Scoliosis Strength Collective to see if it’s the right fit for you.

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