Scoliosis Therapy For Adults and Teens

With a curve of less than 45 degrees.

At-Home Scoliosis Therapy

Scoliosis Conditioning is a doctor-and therapist-approved scoliosis therapy designed to do at home. These programs will provide you with a foundational practice that you can take with you for the rest of your life.

How It Works

# 1

Know Your Curve

Scoliosis therapy must be specific to the individual. That’s why we have tailored our scoliosis therapy plans around your specific curve pattern. We have carefully designed four sequences based on the most common curve patterns: Levo lumbar (lower left), dextro thoracic (upper right), thoracolumbar dextroscoliosis (C curve to the right), and Levo lumbar/dextro thoracic (S Curve). This is why it is imperative to understand your curve pattern before choosing a program.

Unsure of your curve pattern? Get our free guide, Embrace Your Variation. Inside you’ll be given tools and a map to identify your unique curve pattern in 6 clear steps.

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1

Request an X-Ray

2

Consult a radiologist

3

Request to know your Cobb Angle

4

Be sure to double/triple check the results of your X-Ray with your doctor

Scoliosis Conditioning programs are recommended for individuals with curves in the range of 15-45 degrees. If your Cobb Angle is 45 degrees or higher, please consult your doctor for advice.

# 2

Select Your Scoliosis Conditioning Package

Scoliosis Conditioning programs are designed for 4 curve patterns:

Once you understand your curve pattern, you can decide how you want to work: solo, or guided through the sequences with me. Either way, you will have the videos for life.

DISCOVER THE PACKAGE THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU

Scoliosis Conditioning programs are not suitable for variations of these curve patterns. If you have a curve pattern on the opposite side (i.e., right lumbar instead of left lumbar), please contact me to discuss options.

If you have undergone spinal fusion surgery, please consult your doctor before attempting these exercises.

# 3

Practice At Home

Solo practice

Scoliosis Conditioning programs are designed to be done at home. How often you practice depends on the degree of your curve. The more severe the curve, the more often you should do the exercises. See our FAQ’s for recommendations on how often to practice.

Guided Practice

Although these scoliosis treatments for adults and young adults are suitable for practicing at home, it is recommended that you work with a trained scoliosis therapist to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly. You may need modifications for the exercises or have other spinal conditions that will affect which exercises you can and cannot do. I am here to help.

# 4

Check In Periodically With A Scoliosis Therapist

Although these scoliosis treatments for adults and young adults are suitable for practicing at home, it is recommended that you work with a trained scoliosis therapist to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly. A scoliosis therapist can also add to your treatment protocols.

We recommend checking in once every 1-3 months.

# 4

Check in yearly with your Doctor

Whether it’s getting another x-ray image or having a specialist examine your spine, you’ll want to see how you are progressing. These programs are designed to help manage curve progression, ease pain, and build strength and resilience. Reversing curve progression will depend on age, the degree of the curve, and whether you have any other spinal conditions that may interfere with your progress.

What People Are Saying…

Gabriella Barnstone is the reason I stand straighter, have less pain, a stronger, flexible body. I am not exaggerating.

Gabriella’s approach gives a whole new meaning to yoga therapy. Gabriella’s deep understanding of anatomy distinguishes her practice from other practitioners. She is smart, creative, and caring. What else could you ask for?

Carlotta Jacobson

President, Cosmetic Executive Women

You are an excellent instructor and have deep knowledge of the content.

You have provided so many exercises that I have benefited from. I plan to continue with them as I can truly feel a huge difference. Thank you for all of these videos and fantastic exercises.

Pamela Detrow

Gabriella…I wanted to thank you once again and tell you how much you have helped me to achieve some of my goals.

It really has been a pleasure working with you and that comes from someone who generally views structured exercise as a burden. You are a wonderful teacher and time spent with you finds me fully engaged. I’m SO happy I signed on with you.

Joann Eckstut

founder of THE ROOMWORKS

Meet Gabriella

I am a certified yoga therapist who spent years working alongside doctors, helping to treat their patients with various spinal conditions. With every client I see I do a thorough intake and assessment, read all relevant doctor reports, and speak with their doctors if necessary. I am a firm believer in the collaborative nature of healthcare in order to provide the best outcomes for the patient.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What if I do not know what curve pattern I have?

If you do not know your curve the best way to find out is to get an X-Ray. Although research is being done on the use of ultrasound to determine the angle measurement, at this point it is not widely available. Request to know the Cobb Angle from the radiologist. Be sure to double/triple check the results of your X-Ray with your doctor.

Although a simple Adams test can be used to determine if you have scoliosis, it is not a sufficient way to determine your curve pattern and cobb angle.

What if I don’t know how to read the X-Ray?

Scoliosis x-rays can be confusing. You often can’t tell which direction you are facing when looking at the x-ray. Although there is usually an “R” or “L” printed on the image, sometimes this is left out. You will want to have a conversation with the Radiologist who performed your x-ray, as well as your doctor to be sure which direction and where your curve is located. In addition to requesting the Cobb Angle, ask for a written report.

Can I actually reverse my curvature with exercise?

Although there is some evidence to support that your scoliotic curve can improve with exercise (depending on your age, degree of curve, and other spinal conditions you may have), this should not be the expectation. Because scoliosis tends to progress over time, managing your curve progression is the best thing you can do as a preventative measure. Think of it the same way you think of nutrition, daily exercise and good sleep for healthy aging.

What if my curve is going in the opposite direction as the options you have offered (i.e. right lumbar as opposed to left lumbar curve?)

We have designed and recorded these exercises for the 4 most common scoliotic curve patterns. If you have a curve going in the opposite direction as the ones I have offered, you have a few options:

If you can be sure that you won’t be confused, you can do the exercises to the opposite side. Feel free to contact me with questions.
If you do not feel comfortable doing the exercises on the opposite side, please contact me and let me know you would like a video for your curve pattern. If there is enough demand, I am happy to comply!
Schedule a session with me and we can take pictures and videos of you doing the exercises on the correct side.

At what age can I begin Scoliosis Conditioning exercise programs?

“Scoliosis is a marathon.” Mina Jelacic, MD

Generally we see the most changes in terms of rate of progression before the age of 3, and then again once puberty begins. We do not want to burn you out before the time that the exercises can be most useful to you. Therefore, at SC we recommend not starting any exercise programs until after the age of 10 for females, and after the age of 12 for males.

What if I have undergone spinal fusion surgery?

How many times per week should I do the exercises?

How long should I hold the poses? How many reps should I do?

We imagine that once you watch the videos a certain amount of times you will feel comfortable doing the sequence on your own.

For the strengthening and stretching exercises, hold for at least 30 seconds.

For the exercises that include repetitions, start with 5-10, then SLOWLY and GRADUALLY increase to 10-15 reps, on average of one rep per week.

For the resting and restorative poses, hold for as long as you like.

How often should I do the exercises?

How do I know if I’m doing it correctly?

It’s true, there is actually a lot of nuance to each exercise, and you want to be sure you are targeting the correct muscle group when doing the strengthening exercises. It is also lovely to be supported in the more restorative poses. Work with me and I can help you feel confident in how you approach the work.

Prefer working in a group? I will also be teaching the series in a group format in the fall of 2024. See my events page for more details.

Can I still play tennis, swim, run, do the things I love?

Should I sleep on one side?

There is some evidence to suggest that people with scoliosis struggle with sleep. Because sleep is the foundation of good health we want you to be comfortable around sleep. Our recommendation is to sleep in any position that will get you sleeping well.The idea with Scoliosis Conditioning is that you work unilaterally (during the day!) so that you can live your life without having to constantly think about your scoliosis. Sweet dreams.

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