{"id":8269,"date":"2025-04-30T02:34:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T02:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scolicare.com\/us-clinic\/scoliosis-in-athletes-can-you-still-play-sport\/"},"modified":"2025-04-30T02:34:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T02:34:17","slug":"scoliosis-in-athletes-can-you-still-play-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scolicare.com\/denver-colorado\/scoliosis-in-athletes-can-you-still-play-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Scoliosis in Athletes: Can You Still Play Sport?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A diagnosis of scoliosis can be overwhelming for anyone, but it may be especially concerning for young athletes who fear it may put a stop to their sports careers. The good news is that, with proper management under the care of a scoliosis trained Clinician<\/a>, athletes with scoliosis can still excel in their chosen sports. Here\u2019s what athletes with scoliosis need to know to continue pursuing their passion safely and effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Scoliosis and Its Impact on Sports<\/b><\/h3>\n

Scoliosis is a 3D condition where the spine moves sideways and rotates. What a lot of people don\u2019t realise is that there are actual 3D structural changes that occur in the bones (vertebrae) and discs of the spine. This also leads to changes in the shape of the torso as well as an uneven posture (think uneven shoulders, shoulder blades and hips).\u00a0 While mild cases may not cause significant issues, more severe curvatures can affect posture, flexibility, and range of motion, potentially impacting athletic performance. It can be challenging to throw a javelin straight, or do a back walkover straight on a beam,<\/a>\u00a0when your torso and spine are not straight. The size of the curve and the type of sport play a big role in how scoliosis affects an athlete\u2019s abilities. But it doesn\u2019t have to stop goals being achieved! Usain Bolt<\/a> is a prime example of reaching tremendous heights in sport despite having scoliosis (Fig 1).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Fig 1: Usain Bolt is well known for excelling his career despite having scoliosis!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can Athletes with Scoliosis Play Sports?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Absolutely! At ScoliCare, we encourage our patients to play sport but sometimes we just may need to tweak a few things. Many athletes with scoliosis continue to compete at high levels and this is generally where we need to pay more attention when they have scoliosis. The scoliosis may be impacting their performance \u2013 it\u2019s hard to have great body awareness while dribbling a soccer ball if the scoliosis is progressing quite fast during a growth spurt. With the right treatment plan and modifications, they can manage their condition effectively while maintaining their athletic performance. Whether it\u2019s through bracing, scoliosis specific exercise programs like ScoliBalance<\/a> \u2013 general exercise is not a treatment for scoliosis, or surgery, scoliosis treatment can help reduce the impact of the condition on the body and prevent further progression of the curve.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s important to take a few things into consideration. Let\u2019s take a look at a few things below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Managing<\/span> Scoliosis In Young Athletes \u2013 What You Need to Know<\/b><\/p>\n