Many people with scoliosis feel constant stiffness and assume they need more stretching. But as Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth explain, tightness doesn’t always mean short muscles — sometimes it’s a sign of fatigue, overwork, or instability. While stretching can offer temporary relief, it often doesn’t address the underlying cause of muscle tension.

Together they discuss why stabilization and strength training tend to be more effective and often lead to longer-term relief and improved posture — especially when done with scoliosis-specific principles & techniques. They describe how building up deep stabilizers and strengthening underactive muscles (often on the concave side of a curve) can reduce tightness naturally over time.

What you should know:

• Stretching feels good—but may not solve the problem. Muscles that feel tight may actually be overworked or protecting unstable joints.
• Stability first. Learning to find and maintain a more neutral spine position is the foundation for building strength safely.
• Strength reduces tightness. When muscles are strong enough to support the spine, the nervous system can relax, easing that “constant tension” feeling.
• Personalization matters. Every scoliosis curve is unique; there’s no one-size-fits-all “right” muscle to strengthen.
• Progress at your pace. Start small, focus on consistency, and remember — movement is medicine.

Pro Tips from Dr. Laura & Dr. Beth:

• Take photos or videos of your posture to better understand your body’s alignment.
• Pair your stretches with active elongation or dynamic warm-ups rather than static holds.
• If possible, work with a scoliosis-trained professional — but even small steps toward strength can make a big difference. Remember you can work with each of us virtually as well!
  • Work with Dr. Laura
  • Work with Dr. Beth
• Don’t fear strength training! With the right form and awareness, it’s one of the most beneficial tools for scoliosis management.

📚 Resources Mentioned

• Strength and Spine's Stretching with Scoliosis Course
• The Curves In Motion Masterclass: Mastering Exercise With Scoliosis & Spinal Fusion by Dr. Laura

Bottom line: If you’ve been relying on stretching alone, we hope this episode encourages you to add stabilization and strength training to your routine. Your future body will thank you for it!

Support the show

Live from Dubrovnik — Summarizing the Latest Research in Scoliosis Care

In this special episode of ScoliPod, Dr. Beth and Dr. Laura check in from Dubrovnik, Croatia after spending four days immersed in the latest scoliosis research and clinical insights at the 2025 SOSORT Conference.

They break down their biggest takeaways from each day, covering everything from new approaches to adult scoliosis to the evolving understanding of exercise, bracing, and screening.

The main topics covered include:

• Adult Scoliosis Research: Updated insights into the three main types of adult scoliosis (de novo, adolescent-onset, and secondary), plus new data showing exercise can improve quality of life and even reduce curves modestly.
• Adult Bracing Advances: Exploration of soft and rigid brace designs for adults — a growing area of study focused on pain reduction and posture improvement.
• Scoliosis-Specific Exercise (PSSE): A practical session comparing different schools of scoliosis-specific physical therapy and the importance of self-correction and stabilization training.
• General vs. Specific Exercise: Research showing that while scoliosis-specific exercise best improves Cobb angles, general fitness still plays a major role in enhancing quality of life for teens.
• Surgery and Quality of Life: New findings suggesting that individuals with curves up to 60° can still have excellent quality of life — potentially reshaping when surgery is considered.
• Emerging Technology: Advances in telehealth assessments, 3D-printed braces, and low-radiation imaging techniques.
• Hypermobility and Scoliosis: How flexibility can actually improve exercise and bracing outcomes when paired with proper stabilization work.
• Global Collaboration: The importance of unified screening standards and multidisciplinary teamwork across PTs, orthotists, and surgeons worldwide.

Overall Impression:

Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth enjoyed the conference programming, as always, leaving feeling energized by the progress in conservative scoliosis care and the growing collaboration across professionals from doctors to therapists to orthotists (the professionals who make scoliosis braces). If you are a professional working with scoliosis, they recommend exploring SOSORT membership to stay engaged in the evolving research shaping scoliosis treatment today, as well as make amazing connections with like-minded individuals from around the world.

Resources Mentioned:

• SOSORT (The Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment)
• Strength & Spine Group Programs — accountability & support for scoliosis-specific exercise.

More Resources:

• Follow us on Instagram:
  • @laura.g.dpt
  • @strengthandspine
• Learn more about our services:
  • https://www.drlauraglazebrook.com/
  • https://www.strengthandspine.com/
• Related blogs by Dr. Laura:
  • Learn More About Scoliosis & Scoliosis Exercise
  • Highlights from SOSORT 2024 in Boston

Listen in to hear how the latest global research is shaping the future of scoliosis care — from Croatia straight to your speaker.

Support the show

Welcome back to ScoliPod — the show rewriting the rules about living with a curved spine.

Join Dr. Laura and Dr. Beth as they dive into the path to becoming a physical therapist and how some PTs go on to specialize specifically in scoliosis care.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered:

• What kind of training physical therapists go through
• How scoliosis-specific certification works
• What to look for when choosing a PT for scoliosis or spinal fusion recovery

What We Cover:

• The journey to becoming a physical therapist in the U.S.
  → What a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) includes
  → Licensure and specialization options
• What makes a scoliosis-specific therapist different
  → The main international training schools (Rigo Concept, SEAS, SSOL, and more)
  → What a Level 1 scoliosis-specific course looks like
  → Why case studies and continued education matter
• How scoliosis research continues to evolve
  → The latest findings on exercise, sports participation, and curve management
  → Why it’s essential to work with practitioners who stay current with research
• A preview of the upcoming SOSORT Conference, where Dr. Beth and Dr. Laura will bring back the latest scoliosis research updates

Key Takeaways:

• Not all physical therapists have scoliosis-specific training — and that’s okay, but it’s important to know the difference.
• Scoliosis-specific schools require hands-on experience, case studies, and ongoing education.
• Current research supports activity and movement — there’s no single “bad” sport for scoliosis.
• The field is growing rapidly, and staying connected to research keeps care up to date and effective.

Resources Mentioned:

• Find a local scoliosis specialist here:
  • Rigo Concept - Spanish school of scoliosis
  • ISICO/ SEAS - (Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis)
  • SSOL - Scoliosis and Spine Online Learning
  • PSSE-Schroth - Greek based training
• SOSORT (International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment)
• Dr. Laura's website
• Dr. Beth’s website

Join the Conversation:

Have questions about scoliosis-specific PT or want help finding a trained therapist?
👉 Reach out to Dr. Laura or Dr. Beth

And don’t forget to follow, rate, and share ScoliPod to help more people discover evidence-based scoliosis care.

Next episode: A live recap from the SOSORT Conference — all the latest scoliosis research, simplified.

Support the show