Why Practice Did Not Make My Pirouettes Perfect

I chose my first profession at age 4 like most girls. I would be a ballerina. I loved ballet. I lived to dance in any shape or form. By the time I was in high school I was dancing 3-5 times a week for several hours. I was a natural jumper. I had ballon in my leaps, aka I could get some serious air. Oh, but turns… I practiced for hours and hours. In front of the mirror, eyes open, eyes closed, barefoot, in shoes, and so on I tried. I improved with time. I could somewhat consistently do double pirouettes by college, but no one would call me a natural turner. I always assumed I was not good at them and could never be.

Now I am a physical therapist, a scoliosis specialist to be exact. I have been certified in the Schroth Method, which is a form of exercise that can improve posture in spinal deformities such as scoliosis and has the potential to reverse curvature during growth. I was diagnosed with scoliosis as an adolescent, but it was not enough to merit bracing. The common practice for curves under 20 degrees has traditionally been “wait and see”. I did not have pain and it did not bother me, so life went on. It was not until I began having numbness and tingling in my right leg as an adult that I began to realize how my scoliosis was affecting my posture.

Left Right

I​ have a small low curve in my thoracolumbar spine measuring roughly 17 degrees; not a big deal by severity classification. However, the way my body has responded to this curve is a big deal. Sometimes in scoliosis the body compensates by keeping the center of gravity at midline with even weight bearing in both legs. This is not the case in my spine. As seen in the image adjacent, if unchecked, my curve pulls my entire trunk to the right. With scoliosis specific exercises I have learned how to use my muscles to keep my curve from taking my center of gravity over the right, and how to remain as neutral as possible.

​Now back to the pirouettes. As I learn how to hold myself in better posture I am finding balance to be so much easier! The increased control and awareness I have gained from scoliosis exercises allow me to do things I was never able to do well before. It is apparent why, when you look at the dancers pictured. The ballerina with scoliosis is fighting not only the natural difficulty of the task, but the asymmetrical pull of gravity to her right side with every rotation. It makes sense now why turns were always my nemesis. How was I to know how to keep my body weight central to prevent falling off towards my curvature without being shown!?

​I love what I do now. Mild scoliosis can make a big difference, especially with athletics and even more so as we age. Scoliosis specific exercise would have made a big difference for me had I known about it in the peak of my growth and dancing career. Even now I can enjoy the benefits of my improved posture and hope to share that knowledge with individuals with curves young and old!