So far, we have looked at WHAT is a functional scoliosis, in part 1 of this Functional Scoliosis (FS) series, HOW it develops, in part 2 and this post will be examining the possible causes – WHY a FS develops.

Based on personal experience, the knowledge gained over a 44 year physiotherapy career and the very promising improvements in the chronic low back patients who follow my functional scoliosis protocol, it is my theory that FS develops due to turning to the left too much – how and why exactly…?

1. Occupationally: people who work on 2 or more computer screens; baristas or other hospitality workers who frequently turn left and right: someone who may work at a desk hard up against a wall on their right, forcing them to get out of the chair to the left or to turn left to talk to their colleagues.

2. Recreationally: people who play golf, cricket or tennis, repeatedly swinging to the left or basketball, netball or volleyball with their right hand.

3. Strongly dominant right hand use, particularly when reaching or pushing.

Or potentially some combination of the above 3 scenarios, in either left or right handed individuals. The overdevelopment of the left rotating trunk muscles (in particular the right external abdominal oblique, seen in the diagram above) appears to lead to shortening which then elevates the pelvis on the right and rotates it to the left, thus potentially setting up the compensatory scoliosis.

Have you noticed any aspects of a functional scoliosis in yourself or perhaps in other family members? If so, what do you think may be the cause? Please leave comments in the contact form on the website and particularly if you have thoughts about how to start to address your scoliosis. In part 4 of this Functional Scoliosis series, coming out soon, the answers to how to self-manage your chronic low back pain will be revealed…

Take back control.