The gym and scoliosis: how to train safely

The gym and scoliosis go together better than expected — but only under certain conditions. Dr. Kateřina Smíšková does not ban the gym for children with scoliosis; she bans specific exercises and watches the weights.

It starts with a warning for therapists: when a child with scoliosis suddenly improves strikingly fast, ask whether they have started going to the gym. Strength training does not act symmetrically on a scoliotic spine — and what looks like improvement may be something else.

How many kilos, and what not at all

For the leg press there is a specific number: up to 40 kg, or around 60 for a larger patient. The compressive force of the quadriceps can push the lumbar curve downwards.

And one machine to avoid entirely: the rowing ergometer. It looks like the ideal back builder, but it is extraordinarily compressive.

What to do instead

Sitting on a bench with the lower back supported, right angle at the knees, lat pulldown from above — the same principle as the ceiling ropes, only with more force. It can be done single-handed, but that already requires knowing how to correct the shoulder blade.