Everyday Habits That Support Scoliosis Care Between Appointments

Oct 7

Written By Dr. Rosemary Carvajal, PT, DPT

A scoliosis-specific physical therapy session is only one part of a much longer week. What happens in between sessions, the ordinary choices made while sitting at a desk, carrying a backpack, or getting ready for bed, adds up over time. None of these habits will correct a torsional condition on their own, but they can either support the work being done in PSSE sessions or quietly work against it.

Sitting and Screen Time

Many people with scoliosis spend long stretches of the day sitting, whether at school, work, or home. Prolonged static positions tend to reinforce whatever asymmetry is already present in the body, since the spine settles into whatever support, or lack of support, it is given. Small adjustments, like changing position periodically, avoiding leaning consistently to one side, and setting up a desk or workspace that does not require twisting to see a screen, can reduce some of that reinforcing effect.

Sleep Position and Setup

Sleep position is another area patients often ask about. There is no single sleep position required for scoliosis, and switching positions throughout the night is normal and expected. What matters more is the overall setup, including a mattress and pillow that offer reasonably even support, rather than chasing a single "correct" way to lie down.

Carrying Bags and Everyday Loads

Backpacks, purses, and bags carried consistently on one shoulder can contribute to asymmetrical loading over the course of a day. Using both straps on a backpack, alternating sides when carrying a bag, and being mindful of unevenly distributed weight are simple habits that add up, particularly for school-aged patients carrying books and supplies daily.

Bringing PSSE Principles Into the Day

Patients working with scoliosis-specific physical therapy are usually given specific corrective positions and exercises to practice at home, and those remain the most direct way to reinforce a PSSE program. Alongside that dedicated practice time, though, everyday movement and posture choices offer additional, lower-effort opportunities to support the same goals throughout the day. A few categories worth paying attention to include:

How weight is distributed while standing or walking
How often a static position is held without a break
How bags, backpacks, and daily loads are carried
How a workspace or study area is set up

Building Habits That Last

None of these habits require major life changes, and expecting perfection is not the goal. Building general awareness of daily positioning, and making small adjustments where they are reasonably easy to make, is what tends to stick over time. For patients and families navigating scoliosis, this kind of daily awareness works alongside PSSE, using Rigo Concept BSPTS, SEAS, or Schroth principles, rather than replacing it.

If you would like help thinking through how daily habits fit into a broader scoliosis care plan, we are happy to talk it through. Reach out to ScoliSource Physical Therapy at (732) 245-9204 or office.scolisource@gmail.com, or visit www.scolisource.com to learn more.

Dr. Rosemary Carvajal, PT, DPT

Dr. Rosemary Carvajal, PT, DPT is a board-certified Doctor of Physical Therapy and scoliosis-specific rehabilitation specialist. She has dedicated her career to helping children, adolescents, and adults with scoliosis and other spinal conditions move with greater ease, manage pain, and achieve lasting improvements in posture and function.

Rosemary is certified in the Rigo Concept BSPTS (Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School) method (L1, L2, L3 Advanced Certification) and SEAS (Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis) method, both internationally recognized systems of Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE) that evolved from the original Schroth Method. These advanced certifications allow her to design individualized treatment plans rooted in the most current research and best practices in scoliosis care.

Her passion for scoliosis rehabilitation is deeply personal. As a teenager, Rosemary wore a scoliosis brace and later underwent spinal fusion surgery. She has experienced firsthand the physical, emotional, and social challenges that scoliosis can bring. Today, she continues to practice scoliosis-specific exercise herself, which fuels both her empathy and her belief in the effectiveness of the methods she teaches. This lived experience allows her to provide not only clinical expertise but also compassionate, understanding care that truly connects with patients and families.

Rosemary provides scoliosis-specific physical therapy across the lifespan, including pre- and post-surgical care, brace management support, and long-term exercise programs. Her clinical practice is complemented by active involvement in research.

Beyond clinical care, Rosemary serves on the Communication Committee of SOSORT (International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment), where she helps advance global education and collaboration in scoliosis treatment.

Her approach blends advanced clinical expertise with personal experience and compassion. By combining evidence-based scoliosis-specific exercise methods with a hybrid practice model- offering both in-home and private clinic sessions, Rosemary ensures that every patient receives personalized care designed to support both spinal health and quality of life.