ARE THERE “ GOOD” AND “ BAD” SPORTS FOR YOU ? LET’S DEBUNK SOME MYTHS
We often hear this: “ my son has scoliosis and the doctors say he should practice swimming as it’s the only sport that is good for the spine! “, or: tennis causes scoliosis! “ and so on and so forth. These are myths, without any scientific grounds.
In 1996 the “ Research group on Scoliosis and Vertebral Diseases “ chaired by the late Professor Paolo Sibilla completed an interesting study in which it analysed positive and negative features ( as regards the muscle-skeleton apparatus ) of the main sports young people practice in the growing age.
Let us now see the good and bad thing about the most common sports:
FOOTBALL
- This sport develops prevalently the muscles of lower limbs; it is therefore necessary to compensate it with strengthening exercises for the upper limbs
- It provides good cardiovascular training
- There is risk of physical trauma during matches
- It has no particular effects on the muscular and skeletal balance of the vertebral column
VOLLEYBALL
- There is no risk of physical trauma because of collisions during game play (that is why many young women choose it)
- It is not recommended for boys with tendency to hyperkyphosis since, especially if practiced at professional level, can increase the backbone kyphosis
BASKETBALL
- It provides excellent cardiovascular training
- It seems that the continuous leaps have a positive effect on growth
- It is highly traumatic for knees and ankles
ATHLETICS
- At school level, if the athlete tries all specialties ( jumping, throwing, sprints, middle and long distance running) athletics greatly helps development of the muscular and skeletal system and increases strength and resistance to all of the body
- It has no particular contraindications, but it is very demanding and little entertaining
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
- If practiced at the basic training level represents the ideal sport for physical level as it help develop an excellent neuro-muscolar control
- All the main muscular districts are equally trained
- Some exercises ( bridge, scissors) heavily exert the spinal column and therefore are not recommended for subjects with strong lumbar hyperlordosis
BALLET
- Several studies confirm importance of ballet dance in physical development of young females throughout the whole age of development
- It grants an excellent awareness and control over posture because of the use of the mirror during training
- It is an excellent correction gymnastic for people suffering from scoliotic paramorphism
- It is recommended for girls lumbar hyperlordosis as the dancer’s stance flattens the curves
CYCLING
- It provide excellent cardiovascular training
- Develops lower limbs particular
- The cyclist’s running stance may increase kyphosis ( if practiced for a long time at professional level)
SKIING
- Highly recommended for development of lower limbs in particular ; it is practiced outdoor, in mountain areas, and therefore it is particularly beneficial for the respiratory apparatus
- Helps developing an excellent neuromuscular control
- If new generation equipment ( helmet, skis and boots) is used, the number of traumas is reduced with respect to the past years
MARTIAL ARTS
- All these sports train and develop neuro - muscular control and they also help increasing articulations’ flexibility and extension
- Helps develop a good control over the body both in static and dynamic situations
ARCHERY
- It is almost a correction gymnastics for young people with dorsal hyperkyphosis
- Increases concentration
- Does not provide training for the cardio-respiratory apparatus
TENNIS
- For years it has been discommended to boys with scoliosis (even slight scoliosis) as it was thought that, being an asymmetric sport it could worsen scoliosis; instead, studies on professional tennis players have proven that tennis does not cause scoliosis but develops the “main” upper limb more than the other one
- Improves eye-hand coordination
- It provides good training for the cardio-respiratory apparatus
SWIMMING
-For year it has been (and still is) the “ No. recommended sport” because it has several real positive features:
1- It provides excellent training for the cardio-respiratory apparatus
2- Reinforced all the main muscular districts ( especially dorsal muscles)
3- Helps increasing articulations’ flexibility
4- There is no risk of trauma.
But nonetheless it is NOT a cure for scoliosis! Researchers Vercautereen and Geyer state that for cases of thoracic scoliosis with hump exceeding 10 mm swimming is not only not useful but can even be detrimental as it may trigger development of a self-deformation mechanism caused by forced breathing and water pressure, and in addition to that while swimming it is not possible to notice and correct posture, however for kids with only a slight scoliosis or other paramorphisms (dorsal hyperkyphosis, lumbar hyperlordosis ) swimming is still an excellent sport. Its results may be made even better if combined with correction gymnastic.
Damiano Francesconi
