Through Lyons Structural Therapy, I offer a unique and thorough approach to treating scoliosis that has helped my patients in Toronto, Ontario to find relief and avoid surgery for more than 15 years.
Scoliosis is the name for an abnormal curvature of the spine. It ranges in severity, from small asymmetries of less than ten degrees to large curvatures of 50 degrees and beyond that require surgery. At Lyons Structural Therapy our goal is to help children and adults with scoliosis stop their curvatures from progressing so that they avoid surgery and remain upright and free from pain and movement restrictions.
The Lyons Structural Therapy approach to treating scoliosis is thorough, insightful and effective, and has helped many patients avoid the need for surgery.
With more than 15 years of scoliosis research and experience, I have changed my own body for the better and have a first-hand understanding of the emotional and physical challenges that scoliosis and its treatment present.
THE MISSION
Lyons Structural Therapy’s mission is to improve the quality of life of people dealing with postural problems, mobility restrictions, pain and injury—without surgery.
Of course, it’s true that surgery can affect the spine directly while non-surgical methods cannot. However, this should by no means cause us to rule out the effectiveness of non-surgical methods. Especially as more and more research is revealing how much scoliosis is involved with the other systems of the body. In my treatment system I help my clients’ posture, proprioception (perception of our posture), muscular system and fascia in four distinct ways:
1. Posture and Proprioception Training
Scoliosis treatment begins and ends with identifying, perceiving, and feeling your posture. If you are able to maintain an upright, symmetrical posture and a balanced coordination, I believe your chances of avoiding curve progression are very good.
2. Stretching and Mobility Work
I often say scoliosis is a condition of asymmetry and rigidity. In order to have a positive impact on the asymmetry aspect of scoliosis, it is important to address areas of rigidity. The more supple your body is the easier it is to work effectively with scoliosis.
3. Strengthening Work
The most obvious example of people who are expert in changing the volume and vitality of their body is bodybuilders. My goal is to help you create change in the compression areas of your torso rather than turn you into an Olympic lifter, so strength training is an important tool which I use carefully.
4. Manual Treatment
While stretching, mobilizing, strengthening, and postural education are all methods that the scoliotic client can train for improved postural symmetry, sometimes it is of immense help, there are some changes that you won’t be able to achieve on your own. I use manual treatment to help correct muscular and fascial challenges that may impede your improvement.