Men are more frequently affected by Scheuermann’s disease than women. It is not completely clear why the disease occurs. Hereditary factors as well as overstrain (sitting bent forward, compression, etc.) can promote the development of the disease. Therapy, even in adolescence, is essential to prevent or minimize late effects.
4 simple exercises to imitate
- Rowing with the Theraband
- Eagle Swings
- Page lift
- Stretching on the wall
Exercises
When doing physiotherapy for Scheuermann’s disease, the first thing to remember is that it usually involves the therapy of young people. Motivation, psychological aspects and education about consequences must therefore be taken into account in therapy. Since Scheuermann’s disease is a growth disorder, it should also be noted that once growth has been completed, the bony malposition can no longer be reversed.
However, a targeted improvement of posture and musculature can prevent further incorrect loading. During physiotherapy, it is important to maintain the mobility of the spine. Exercises that strengthen the uprighting back muscles are ideal for this.
The muscles between the shoulder blades (rhomboids) pull them together and thus also ensure improved posture in the shoulder and neck area. This area can be trained for example by rowing movements (with Theraband or on the machine). Gymnastic exercises on the mat such as eagle swings are also possible.
Here the training is done using the arms. Rowing standing with the TherabandThe Theraband is attached around a door handle or a window handle. The two ends are held in one hand each.
In hip-width position the band is brought under tension. Both elbows are slightly below shoulder height and bent about 90° at the elbow joint. The shoulder blades now contract as if they were fixing a pin between their shoulder blades.
At the same time, both arms pull towards the chest, thus bringing more tension to the Theraband. Do this exercise 3 times with 15 whl. each.
Eagle swings on the matYou lie on a mat in prone position. The tips of your feet remain constantly on the ground during the exercise. The direction of gaze is towards the floor and the arms are raised at the sides with bent elbow joint on the body, as if you want to represent a U with your arms.
While pulling the elbows towards your body, raise your upper body a few centimeters off the floor. The sternum should not have any more contact with the ground. The elbows are brought back into the U-hold and the upper body is lowered.
The gaze is still directed towards the ground. Also this exercise is performed 3 times with 15 whl. each.
Standing sidewaysThe erection of the thoracic spine (Musculus erector spinae) can also be trained well using the arms. The loosely stretched arms are led outwards, the shoulder blades contract, the back straightens. This exercise becomes more difficult if it is performed from the prone position or on a gym ball, for example.
There is a variety of exercises for straightening up. It is important to keep the therapy exciting for the adolescents, so the exercise program should be changed from time to time, not least to add new stimuli. In the following articles you will find more exercises against a hunchback:
- BWS Syndrome – exercises that help
- Physiotherapy for a hunchback
- Postural deficiency
- Exercises with the Theraband
Besides strengthening the back muscles, stretching the chest muscles is important.
This pulls the shoulders and arms forward and thus promotes the development of a rounded back. Since many young people have a bent posture, especially when working at a desk or computer, it is important to stretch any shortened muscles. Rotational stretching positions are a good idea.
Stretching exercise in a standing position An arm is placed against the wall at shoulder height, the elbow is bent, while the forearm remains firmly against the wall, the upper body is now turned away from the arm. A pull can be felt in the front shoulder of the side and the chest. The stretch should be held for 20-30 seconds.
Mobilising exercises are also important. There is no limit to the imagination here. The spine should become and remain mobile in all directions.
A variety of mobilization exercises for the spine, they receive in the article physiotherapy mobilization exercises.Young people should practice sports that involve a lot of active exercise and not just working in front of the body (e.g. swimming). This is a manifest deformity of the spine. The exercises should therefore not only be performed in adolescence but should be integrated into the patients’ everyday life.
Especially with increasing age the mobility should be maintained! Besides maintaining mobility, strengthening and stretching, relaxing exercises and techniques can be applied. Due to the permanent incorrect posture, painful tensions in the back muscles often occur.
Fascial training, autogenic training and progressive muscle relaxation offer possibilities for this. Relaxing effects can also be achieved with kinesiotape. In the case of severe postural deformities, breathing should also be included in the exercise program, as the incorrect posture of the thoracic spine has a strong influence on the position of the ribs.
Yoga and Pilates are training concepts that take mobility, strengthening and stretching as well as breathing into account and therefore offer some good exercises for therapy in Scheuermann’s disease. Mobility exercises can be found in the article Physiotherapy Mobility exercises. If the lumbar spine is affected, the back extensor should be trained in this area.
The abdominal muscles should rather be stretched, which would strengthen them by tilting the pelvis backwards, the curvature of the lumbar spine. With the hollow back, on the other hand, it is particularly important to train the abdominal muscles as well to counteract the increased hollow back. You can find exercises for this in the article Exercises against a hollow back.
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