The Physio Diary

Do You Know the Impact of Scoliosis on Children? Scoliosis can feel just as isolating for a child as dealing with a serious condition like HIV. While this is not true for every child, those with severe scoliosis often struggle with self-esteem—especially when faced with treatments like wearing braces for long hours. Let’s explore what scoliosis is, why it happens, and how to manage it in a way that supports both the body and the mind. What Causes Scoliosis in Children? Unlike non-structural scoliosis (caused by temporary factors like posture), scoliosis in children is usually structural, meaning the problem lies in the spine itself. The most common cause—Idiopathic Scoliosis—accounts for 80% of cases. Surprisingly, it doesn’t have a known cause! The curvature often appears out of nowhere. Here’s something to think about, though: Could poor positioning during early childhood contribute? While there’s no proof, it’s a good reason to keep kids sitting and moving in healthy way...

In our last post, we introduced a simple test to check if our spine is straight or slightly curved due to poor posture. So, how many of us actually bent over and had someone assess our spine? What did they find? What’s Next? Our test results might have been either: Positive: meaning we have functional scoliosis. Negative: meaning our spine alignment is normal. Here's the good news: Regardless of our results, we’re still fit to live our best life. Many people with functional scoliosis have no pain and even forget it’s there—until, of course, the back pain fairy decides to pay them a visit. But if after discovering we have functional scoliosis and the back pain keeps showing up uninvited, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and assess what’s really going on. And don’t worry, we won’t ask us to calculate the degree of your spine’s curve like some geometry homework. Instead, let’s focus on what matters—getting us pain-free! Pain: A Physiotherapist’s Arch-Nemesis Physiotherapis...

We might have heard that friendly physiotherapist reminding us (again) to adjust our posture. Or maybe we’ve read something from our series You Are Royalty, Act Like One. But here’s the real question: after reading those tips, do we remember to keep our posture in check? Did we take a moment to adjust how we’re sitting? And, right now as we read this—are we actually sitting like royalty? If not, we’re here to help keep those reminders fresh! What Could Go Wrong? Our spine is beautifully crafted in an S-shape, divided into three main parts: cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (lower back)—and we might add the sacral at the base. Each part has a distinct curve: the cervical and lumbar areas curve inward (lordosis), while the thoracic area curves outward (kyphosis). This curve isn’t just for looks; it’s essential for balance and support. However, some are born with spinal misalignments (and, no, this doesn’t affect their intelligence or abilities). But for those ...

A lot of us are guilty of being neck crackers… And yes, it is what it sounds like! Neck crackers are those friends or strangers who suddenly twist their heads at angles just to hear that satisfying click. Sound familiar? If so, it’s time to ask— are you a neck cracker? What Do You Really Know About Your Neck? Did you know that a neck injury can cause paralysis in both arms and legs? Did you know it can lead to respiratory problems, like pneumonia? Did you know it can affect the strength and function of your shoulders and hands? Probably not… Our neck is made up of seven tiny bones, yet it bears the full weight of our heads. You think it is no big deal? Imagine your neck carrying 4.5 to 5.4 kilograms, 24/7. No wonder it gets tired! Now the question is—how do we give our necks a break? While we can’t take our heads off to let our necks rest, we can try lying on our backs with a pillow snugly supporting the space between our head and neck. This simple position allows the neck ...