Scoliosis Options

[viola-mad]

Just wondering whether anyone on here has scoliosis. And if so, does it affect your playing? Do you do anything to minimise its effects? Thanks.

[miffy]

I have mild scoliosis. It affects my piano playing more than the violin. I find it more comfortable to play for long periods of time standing rather than sitting. And I get on better if I stand (or sit) up straight to start with, rather than once it's already started hurting.
The other thing is to keep the violin really out at the side, not let it go forwards - even more so with a viola, not to let the neck curve forwards, especially. This has also worked well with a pupil who is worse affected than me.

[Misterioso]

My friend has scoliosis. She plays piano and (to a lesser extent) violin. It affects how long she can play, and often she divides practice sessions up into two or three shorter sessions during the day, as she cannot sit comfortably in one position for long. She uses a variety of different chairs both for playing and general sitting, including a back chair, desk chair, etc, and lots of cushions for lower back support. She also finds it essential to lie down at frequent intervals to minimise pain.

[Dugazon]

I've had mild scoliosis since birth, it didn't affect me for a long time, probably no major problems well into my early 20s. Since then, it got progressively worse, but not so severe that I couldn't deal with it.

Now I'm older, it's hitting with a vengeance though, because it in a way started to set off a chain reaction, from neck and shoulder problems to sacroiliac joint pain. I start to get back pains when I walk for longer than 10 minutes (still doing it nevertheless), and it does affect me in my singing when I have a bad day, because my whole muscular balance is off kilter.

It is uncomfortable, but you find your strategies to deal with it I guess. I have a good physio, and I also see an Alexander practitioner regularly. It would be a lie to say though it doesn't affect me ...

Edit: As for the violin: I was a much more active violin player when I was younger, and back then, the scoliosis had virtually no effect on me, but that was before I literally started feeling the pain. Today, I only play the violin occasionally, and I find it's okay. It hurts a bit in my lower back if I am standing for a long time, but that happens in general, not only when I am playing the violin. I consciously watch that I don't twist too much, or shift too much weight to one side, and then it tends to be okay. For me personally, sitting with good posture is usually more comfortable than standing, but that's not always an option (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[viola-mad]

Thanks for the replies which are both useful and encouraging. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I've had a slight curvature for as long as I can remember. It runs in my family.

It looks like the current bout of back pain (which has been going on nearly a year now) is down to the scoliosis, but my physio won't say whether he thinks I will ever be pain-free again. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) This makes me think that I won't. So it's useful to know how others cope - gives me somewhere to start.

I have had Alexander sessions in the past, but it had been years since I'd had an episode of back pain so I never thought to mention it. I might try and schedule a few more to see if that helps.