A patient recently came into Advance Physical Therapy with a “C” shaped, sideways curve of his spine (a common scoliosis curve). His main complaint was “leaning to the left during walking”. Because of his “C” shaped spinal curvature, his spine and pelvis had become twisted to the right. During our examination, we identified big differences in mobility between his right and left hip joints because of this “twisted” position he held himself in. Without equal hip movement he lost his ability to take equal steps during walking. As a compensation, he began to lean to the left to keep his balance during walking.
Postural Restoration is a specialized approach used at Advance Physical Therapy. We help patients find muscles that “untwist” their spine and pelvis through specific and targeted education, activities, exercises and positions. There are typically muscles that need to “turn off”, and other muscles that need to “turn on”, as well as areas that have become just plain TIGHT from being held a certain way for a long time. Once a patient learns how to do these activities well, movements in the hips, pelvis and spine often become more balanced, and complaints fade away.
