Swimsuits Part II!

Hey everyone!

Last year I made this post regarding swimsuits and how to work around your scoliosis to find a swimsuit that hides things you don’t like and flatter your curves, hips, and shoulders that may be disproportional!

As I peruse the stores I find that swimsuits are now being released for the upcoming summer season!

I have come up with a few more tips and tricks and thought I’d share!

Dealing with uneven hips:

As I mentioned last year, bottoms with ruffling will help conceal your uneven hips. 

If ruffles aren’t your style, go for a bold print on your bottoms, but avoid color blocking. The bold print will move the eye around the bottoms rather than having them fixed on one spot. 

If you are still concerned, try board shorts.

They act like regular shorts which I assume most are comfortable wearing. To sport this you could wear a bold bikini or a top with accents on your shoulders and neck to attract the eye away from your hips.

Dealing with curves in the torso:

Avoid one pieces and tankinis with patterns . 

Also avoid horizontal stripes. (But I’m sure most scoliotics are aware of that!)

Prints on one pieces just scream “Look at my uneven curves!” The print on your body will most likely not look right as they are designed for bodies with straight spines. However, you may find a print that is flattering!

Instead, wear bikini tops that expose your stomach. Go for bold prints on your bikini top to draw the eye away from your torso! If you’re still not comfortable, wear a swimsuit cover up or wear a shirt and tie it above the waist. 

I can’t find a photo to show you about tying a shirt. But basically you could take a cute button down shirt and tie it at the bottom on the waist. It would still allow your bikini to be seen but conceal your sides. 

I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t go swimming with a coverup on! I’ve done it a few times and it’s works fine.

Uneven Shoulders:

Most if not all swimsuits will expose your shoulders. To counter this you can wear a cover up like in the photo above.

Hiding a Post-Op Scar:

You can now wear one pieces! 

If you want to show more skin, and don’t think a one piece or a tankini don’t cut it, wear a bikini and a sheer cover up.

You can still show off your body and the cover up will conceal your scar. Besides, your scar fades over time and under the cover up it will be barely noticeable! 

Avoid monokinis that expose your back.

This would be the opposite of what you’d want if you were looking to hide your scar!

Things to remember:

Avoid color blocking on your bottoms but go for a bold print or ruffles if you’re trying to conceal your hips!

Prints on one pieces are a no-no if you don’t want to draw attention to your torso.

Cover ups are a great way to conceal but still show off skin.

Use a button down shirt tied at the waist to stylishly conceal your torso but still show off your bikini top!

You’re beautiful and you can wear whatever swimsuit you want so long as you choose too! It doesn’t matter for other people probably won’t notice your scoliosis and if they do, they probably won’t say anything about it!

You can enjoy your summer season, and scoliosis shouldn’t stop you!

-Edinette

Everyone, follow: http://www.formspring.me/ScoliosisLife

asleepinthegarden-:

Ask away!

Back Cracking: Who does it?

Hi everyone!

I’m a little ashamed to say I crack my back…quite often.

It feels good in the moment. (Cracking my back that is) But later I feel pain in my lower left side right near my spine.

It’s horrible I know I know!

But it’s a habit I have trouble breaking.

Anyways, I was just curious as to who else cracks their backs and how they feel.

-Edinette

Scoliosis Playlist Part II?

As I was perusing through my iTunes and various mix CDs I came across a few more songs that I felt would go great in a Scoliosis Playlist.

But…I already did that.

So who’s interested in a Part II?

-Edinette

hugxninja answered your question: Would anyone be interested in seeing my physical therapy exercises?

That would be awesome! :D What type of exercises do you do?

Primarily ones that strengthen my core and help re-educate muscles in my back that have been deprived since my body has twisted itself!

It will make more sense with the photos.

I’ll post them as soon as I can :)

Would anyone be interested in seeing my physical therapy exercises?

I could scan them for anyone who wants to see them.

They have pictures and explanations that show you how to do each one.

-Edinette

My experience with physical therapy:

Hi everyone! Edinette here. Thought since my PT sessions are over I could talk a little bit about my experiences and the things I learned. (This is going to get lengthy…)

I was scheduled for PT after my recent visit with my ortho.

He said the PT would help me reduce pain and could overall help in the straightening of my spine.

I saw my therapist once a week for  one month.

I learnt exercises that I do at home every day to help strengthen my muscles around my spine and in my core.

I was told that if your core muscles are weak, there is nothing to help support your spine, leaving your spine free to move around, making it easier for it to curve.

The core muscles is what anchors the spine and with stronger core muscles you will have a stronger spine!

Alongside the strengthening of my core and spine I also worked on teaching the muscles on the lower right side of my back to be used.

Because of my lumbar curve my back muscles on the left side were being over worked whereas the muscles on my right were stiff for not being used as my hip rotated to compensate for the curve. 

I also worked a lot with my posture. Although posture is not a cause of scoliosis, having bad posture when already having scoliosis is not a good mix.

It turned out for me that my posture is what caused most of my pains! The way I stood and sat was the main reason I felt pains where my curve was. It was because I arched my back and my hips were very uneven to compensate for the curve. Both of these factors together were the cause of all my aches.

To help with this I was shown the way to properly stand so that my spine was neutral (not arched) and my weight was even between both feet (so that my hips were not uneven).

I also practice good posture when sitting by sitting all the way back in a chair, pulling the chair all the way up to the desk (to prevent slouching over), and putting my arms on the desk to help me sit up straighter.

It was difficult to practice these things as breaking my bad habits was not easy. But if you practice good posture sitting, you will have good posture standing, and then good posture walking.

As far as standing and walking, I was told to keep my arms at my side which helped counter the rotation in my hips and slouching and curve in my spine.

I also practiced walking on a treadmill where my therapist positioned my hips in such a way that when I walk my hips are not uneven and I have less of a limp.

At my last therapy session, I was given a foot lift to wear in my left shoe.

This is to help raise my hip (my left side is lower due to the rotation) and overall help even out my spine.

I am to continue my exercises and to wear the foot insert until February when I meet with my ortho for the next time.

Overall, I enjoyed my therapy experience. I learned a lot and with what I learned I know how to sit and stand so that I have no pain and my curve can increase.

I was told that if I continue what I am doing (exercises + foot insert) I can grow up without scoliosis!

Please remember that my spine and your spine are different. What may work for me may  not work for you. Talk to your ortho or doctor for your options.

Merry Christmas to all our lovely followers across the globe :)

Hope you’re all enjoying your breaks!