A BALLERINA HEALS HER CURVATURE OF THE SPINE THROUGH EXERCISE

I'm a great fan of ballet and couldn't resist this story.  Ballet is good for both the body and the spirit, and even if you're all grown up, it's a great exercise (provided your doctor approves it).  And if you prefer to only watch ballet, that is also a wonderful experience.

 

Ballerinas are particularly attuned to their bodies and able to use exercise to heal.  Here is a beautiful story of how a young ballerina used exercise to correct a serious case of scoliosis or curvature of the spine.

DAILY MAIL:
 

'I felt like a hunchback and didn't want to go out': Ballerina with scoliosis can finally stand tall again thanks to back exercises

• Hannah Martyn was diagnosed with curvature of the spine three years ago
• She was warned she might need surgery to place rods in her back
• In a bid to avoid this, she took an exercise programme to strengthen the muscles in her back and this was so successful she has returned to ballet.

What is scoliosis
 
Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine in an S-shape.
Signs include a visible curve in the spine, one shoulder or hip being more prominent than the other, clothes not hanging properly and back pain.
Pain usually only affects adults with the condition.
In most cases, the cause of the scoliosis is not known but it can be caused by cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.
In the UK, scoliosis affects three to four children out of every 1,000.
It is also thought that as many as 70 per cent of over 65s have some degree of scoliosis.
It is more common in women than in men.
Most children with the condition do not require treatment as it is mild and corrects itself as the child grows.
However, in severe cases the child may need to wear a back brace until they stop growing.
Occasionally, a child needs surgery to straighten their spine.
In adults, it is usually too late to treat the condition with a back brace or surgery so treatment revolves around reducing pain.

Read more and see pictures -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2570324/Ballerina-scoliosis-finally-stand-tall-thanks-exercises.html
 
And here's a treat - Video from the ballet Sylvia with Darcey Burssell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMQs8MXccpU

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