Scoliosis or scoliotic disease is a serious pathology of the musculoskeletal system due to twisting or curvature of the spine. In some cases, an S-shape develops. Due to a deformed chest, breathing and blood circulation are impaired. In the case of a severe form of curvature, surgical intervention can not be dispensed with, because as a result this can lead to disability. Swimming with this kind of problem can help swimming with scoliosis.
Invaluable help
The benefit of such an exercise is difficult to overestimate. The main task of swimming with the curvature of the spinal column is to strengthen the muscles of the back. But does it help and how much? Such a question cannot but worry. In reality, everything is even better than it seems at first glance. Swimming favorably affects not only scoliosis, but also a number of other diseases of the spine.
The muscular corset of the back is actively involved in the stabilization of the spinal column. If in fact, then it fixes the spine in its place. This is achieved by redistributing the load.
The muscles take on a certain load on the spine, thereby relieving the body of the need to activate compensatory mechanisms, due to which, in fact, the curvature and deformation of the spinal column occurs. However, it should be understood that therapeutic swimming with scoliosis will not be able to protect against the occurrence of deformation. But still, the rate of development of pathology will be significantly reduced, and the possibility of complications will be minimized.
What else is the use?
Medical swimming has many goals that can be easily achieved if desired. In particular, the benefits are as follows:
- The spine is unloaded.
- A habit is instilled to maintain proper posture, which allows you to coordinate movements.
- Strength and endurance of muscle tissue increases.
- The work of the heart and lungs is improving.
- Good prevention in relation to the psychoemotional load on the human body.
Well, this is the least traumatic type of treatment that is indicated to patients, regardless of age. Only in rare cases can swimming be replaced by some alternative technique. For example, physiotherapy exercises (LFK). Otherwise, swimming for children with scoliosis is even recommended.
Is it possible for everyone?
But with all the advantages of medical swimming, not everyone should resort to it. It is also recommended to abandon such treatment in the event of persistent pain.
Explicit contraindications are:
- Diseases of the eyes of an infectious or inflammatory nature.
- Diseases of the oral cavity, nasopharynx, auricle.
- Skin lesions and open wounds.
- The presence of epilepsy.
- Tuberculosis or asthma.
- Urolithic pathology.
Purely theoretically, swimming can be practiced for any degree of scoliosis. But this is only in theory, in practice, it will be useful if a person has the first or second degree of the disease. At the same time, the presence of a more advanced stage (3 or 4) does not mean that therapeutic swimming with scoliosis in children or adults may be contraindicated. It is only necessary to obtain permission from the doctor.
It is worth considering that in the last two stages of scoliosis, there may be some problems due to severe deformation of the spinal column. Therefore, all physical exercises must be performed only in the presence of an instructor.
Expert Advice
During the implementation of medical swimming, it is recommended to adhere to simple rules:
- The swimming style, as well as the exercises for exercise therapy, should be selected by a specialist, which is the attending physician or trainer.
- Observe proper breathing techniques.
- During swimming, pause glides, during which the spine extends independently, should be long.
- Complex technical exercises should be performed only in the presence of a trainer.
- Therapeutic swimming with scoliosis should be regular: ideally 2, and preferably 3 times a week.
- Each lesson should be accompanied by a gradual increase in load, and each subsequent exercise should consolidate the previous one.
Do not ignore these tips, because they will help you learn the technique of swimming without harm to health. When a person is in the water, his weight decreases, and the body acquires its usual position. The muscles are relaxed and function without cramping.
According to experts, swimming positively affects the lungs - they begin to work at full capacity. In addition, venous congestion is eliminated, immunity is increased, metabolism is accelerated.
Breathing exercises
For the reason that due to scoliosis, the functioning of the respiratory system and heart may be disturbed, before swimming with scoliosis it is worth mastering the technique of proper breathing. It can be performed in the pool. To do this, it is worth taking a standing position, putting your hands on the side. After that, take a deep breath, hold your breath and descend into the water with your head. Tilt your head and exhale under water, then return to its original position. Repeat 15-20 times.
In the next position, you need to stand with your back to the wall of the artificial reservoir and take a deep breath. After this, sit down, completely submerged in water. Exhale in this position for 20-30 seconds. Then take the starting position, repeat 10-15 times.
Lie on your stomach with your hands on the edge of the pool. To keep the position, you can move your legs up and down. Inhale, then exhale into the water - repeat 1-2 minutes.
Symmetry and asymmetry
During therapeutic swimming with scoliosis, symmetric and asymmetric exercises are widely used. The advantage of the former is to maintain the midline of the spine. In this case, the effect is achieved if the concave and convex parts of the back are evenly strained. After some time, the muscles on both sides of the body will become equivalent. This will align the concave scoliotic arch.
The action of asymmetric exercises is aimed at the uneven development of concavity and convexity. This allows you to concentrate the therapeutic effect on the problem area of the spine. In other words, if you raise your hand from the side of the scoliotic arc, it is aligned due to a change in the position of the belt of the upper extremities.
It is worth noting that the doctor prescribes swimming with scoliosis of the 3rd degree with asymmetric exercises for the patient, depending on the location of the pathology and, if necessary.
Swimming styles
Swimming is highly effective, especially when it comes to the early development of scoliosis. But what is better to choose? There are several basic styles that come in handy:
- On the back.
- Breaststroke.
- Crawl.
- Butterfly.
We will analyze each of them in a little more detail.
Backstroke
It can be carried out with alternating or simultaneous movement of the hands. Here you need to take the classic position - parallel to the water, look at the ceiling, but extend your arms along the body. Feet move down and up, while at the same time rowing hands. Swim 200 meters.
In another case, with a similar starting position, hand movements are performed simultaneously. The distance is already a little shorter - 10 meters.
Breaststroke
This swimming style with scoliosis of the 1st degree is considered one of the oldest - it is about 10 thousand years old. But his popularity does not suffer from this at all - on the contrary, to this day the posture of a person is corrected.
Swimming is carried out lying on the chest, while the upper and lower extremities produce symmetrical movements relative to the horizontal plane. Here the distance is already a little more - 300 meters.
Crawl
And this is already considered a high-speed form of swimming. At the same time, the head should be in the water all the time, and for inspiration it turns to the side during the stroke. The body position is the same as with the breaststroke - lying on the stomach. Hands perform movements alternately, legs - the same movements up and down. The distance is 200-300 meters.
Butterfly
Popularly, this style is called a butterfly and is quite complicated in technical terms. A similar kind of swimming with scoliosis is also carried out on the stomach, arms and legs make symmetrical movements. Only the upper limbs make quite powerful strokes, while the lower ones move in waves. Distance 200 meters.
Features of the implementation of classes
The swimming styles listed above are not universal so that they can be used regardless of the degree of development of scoliosis. In reality, everything just depends on the stage of the pathology. And here it is important to strictly follow the recommendations outlined below:
- If the disease has stage I, then the optimal water exercises are breaststroke and crawl. This is enough to train a muscle corset and significantly slow down the development of the disease.
- With scoliosis of the 2nd degree, swimming should be performed with asymmetric movements, since the spine is already somewhat deformed. In this case, an adjustment is needed.
- Well, if scoliosis is the most severe, IV degree of severity, then instead of asymmetric exercises, patients should perform symmetrical movements. But again, only with the support of a coach and nothing else.
Complete ignoring of these tips leads to serious complications. At the same time, you can’t just take in one or two visits to completely adjust the position of your spine. This takes time, and sometimes treatment can drag on indefinitely. At least 90 days.
It is impossible to indicate the exact dates, since everything is strictly individual, but approximate figures can be called. As a rule, swimming with scoliosis of stage 2 or 1 takes six months. At the same time short absenteeism (1-3 classes) are allowed. But it’s better not to miss.
With stage III scoliosis, treatment can take from 2 to 3 years. No skipping classes are allowed here. As for the very last stage (IV), it is not possible to cure scoliosis by swimming alone. But this can improve your condition. Just visit the pool is necessary throughout his life.
Scheme of "treatment" for scoliosis of the first degree
Consider, for example, what a treatment regimen might look like at the very initial stage of scoliosis. First you need to take a standing position, resting his hands on the side of the pool. Then a breath is taken and, after holding the breath, the head should be lowered into the water. When exhaling, you need to lower your head down, stretching your legs back - the selection touches the body. Return to starting position. Only 20 repetitions.
The next exercise is backstroke, rowing with both hands. Distance - 200 meters. After this exercise, you can swim 100 meters with alternating hand strokes.
Next, you can move on to the technique of breaststroke at 300 meters. In addition, each stroke should be done by inhalation, and the work of the legs and hands should be separate. For each breath, the head falls into the water, legs are involved. For each exhalation, knees should be pressed to the stomach, and the back should be kept even. A 200 meter rabbit technique will also benefit.
In conclusion
Now we can conclude with regard to swimming with scoliosis. This is true, but most importantly - a useful way to improve the spine. This treatment has no serious contraindications. Of course, there are exceptions, but they are rare. And basically, except for the benefit, they no longer carry anything. In addition, in our time there is a swimming pool in almost every city, and visits are quite affordable.
Using various kinds of swimming techniques, it is possible to completely correct scoliosis of the first degree and significantly reduce the consequences of the second or third stage of the disease of the spinal column.