Frequently asked questions
Physiotherapy for scoliosis – does it make sense, when should it be done, is it paid for by the health insurance? Such a malposition of the vertebral bodies is often diagnosed in early childhood. In this case it is important to accompany the children until adulthood.
These are still growing and can still change a lot of the deformation. The earlier a scoliosis is diagnosed, the better it can be practiced with physiotherapy. The cooperation of doctors and physiotherapists with parents is therefore important.
It is not enough to do the exercises only a few times a week at the therapist. Continuity is crucial. Patients should perform the exercises every day to direct the spine in the right direction.
If irregularities occur, there is a risk that the muscles will deteriorate too quickly again and the patient will have to start over again. In addition, the aspect of the psyche is added in children. During puberty, they are in a phase of self-discovery.
Parents should therefore support the children in regularly performing the exercises. Scoliosis can have various causes. They can also only appear or become noticeable in adulthood.
The daily performance of the exercises is also important. In addition to age, there are also other factors. To a certain extent, conservative physiotherapy is recommended.
If the deformation is already too far advanced and the side effects are too pronounced, it makes all the less sense to do pure physiotherapy. However, this is always different from person to person and must be clarified by the doctor. Usually the health insurance companies cover the costs of the treatment.
However, a co-payment of 10 € and an own contribution of the costs per prescription can be incurred. This can vary and also the number of treatments depending on the insurance and health insurance company. The article Physiotherapy for children with bad posture might also be of interest to you in this regard.
Summary
The earlier a child’s scoliosis is treated with physiotherapy, the greater the possibilities for correction. Special exercises for scoliosis are also advisable in adults. Here, however, the emphasis is more on reducing and preventing subsequent symptoms and strengthening.
In extreme cases of scoliosis, a corset is used in childhood. This helps to bring the vertebral bodies into the correct physiological position during the growth phase.
