Can Reformer Pilates Help Scoliosis?

For many people, scoliosis is something they only associate with a curved spine.

But for those actually living with it, scoliosis can affect far more than posture.

It can affect movement, confidence, pain levels, body image, breathing, mobility, and everyday quality of life.

At Absolute Studios, we work with clients managing scoliosis regularly, including two of our own instructors, Maddie McGawley and Maggie, both of whom have lived with scoliosis since their teenage years.

Their experiences are very different, which highlights one of the most important things to understand about scoliosis:

Every scoliosis is different.

What Is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves and rotates abnormally.

According to the NHS, scoliosis most commonly develops during growth spurts in adolescence, and while some cases are mild, others can cause pain, mobility issues, and postural changes.

Research suggests scoliosis affects around 2 to 3% of the population, with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis being the most common form. It is also more common in girls than boys.

As Maddie explains:

“There’s my kind of scoliosis, which is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, so basically it’s caused by some unknown reason during puberty.”

Maggie adds:

“The proper scoliosis is not a postural thing that you can change. It’s a structural thing that you cannot change.”

That distinction matters.

Scoliosis is not simply “bad posture.”

And for many people, the symptoms go far beyond the spine itself.

Symptoms of Scoliosis People Don’t Expect

When people think about scoliosis, they often picture uneven shoulders or a curved back.

But the reality can be far more complex.

Maggie describes years of chronic inflammation and pain:

“I started to have chronic inflammation around all my joints.”

At one stage, the pain became so severe she struggled to walk.

“I was on crutches. It became a critical situation.”

Over time, she also developed symptoms many people would never immediately connect to scoliosis, including migraines, sciatica, vocal cord issues, disc problems, and chronic hip pain.

“Everything is just not in the right place in my body.”

Maddie’s symptoms showed up differently.

She experiences muscular imbalances, spasms, and tension caused by the rotation in her spine.

“My right obliques cramp up so much. My right hip flexor and the top of my back just take all the weight.”

She also describes intense rib spasms during dance training.

“It felt like my rib cage was closing in on me.”

For both instructors, scoliosis has never just been physical.

It has also been emotional.

The Emotional Side of Scoliosis

One of the biggest themes that came out of both conversations was body awareness.

And how emotionally difficult that process can be.

“When people start understanding their body has issues, they go through a moment of feeling down,” says Maggie.

For many people with scoliosis, the first challenge is not movement.

It is acceptance.

“They want a quick fix,” Maggie explains. “Then they learn there is no quick fix.”

Maddie also spoke about the impact scoliosis can have on confidence and body image, particularly in dance environments where posture and symmetry are constantly scrutinised.

“I wrote my dissertation on how bodily awareness can improve alignment, posture, self esteem, and body image in dancers with scoliosis.”

At Absolute Studios, this is something we take seriously.

Because movement is never just physical.

How Maddie and Maggie Found Pilates

Both instructors were diagnosed as teenagers.

And both were initially pushed toward very different treatment approaches.

Maddie was told she may need surgery.

“They basically take metal rods and straighten out your spine and screw them into your vertebrae.”

Maggie was prescribed a brace for five years and repeatedly told not to move.

“The only thing they wanted me to do was stay still.”

Neither approach solved the deeper problem.

Over time, both discovered Pilates.

For Maggie, it became life changing.

“I found this amazing Pilates studio in the south of Italy, and it literally saved my life.”

For Maddie, Reformer Pilates initially came through dance rehab after pulling her hamstring during Covid.

But she quickly realised how much deeper the method went.

“You have to create that mind body connection for it to be effective.”

Why Reformer Pilates Can Help Scoliosis

At Absolute Studios, we do not claim Pilates can “fix” scoliosis.

But both experience and research suggest that exercise based approaches, including Pilates, can help improve:
• posture awareness
• muscular balance
• spinal mobility
• core strength
• movement control
• quality of life
• pain management

Research published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science found Pilates based exercise programmes may help improve trunk symmetry, flexibility, pain levels, and postural awareness in people with scoliosis.

For Maggie, one of the biggest benefits is awareness.

“You need to be aware of where your body is rotating, where your body is side bending, where you have compression.”

That awareness helps people better understand how they move in everyday life.

Then comes strength.

“If you have one side that is closing down and stiff, Pilates helps create space and support around the spine.”

Maggie compares the role of muscle strength to an internal brace.

“Imagine you have a brace, but it’s made from your own muscles.”

Maddie also explains how movement itself can create emotional and neurological shifts.

“When I started doing spinal flexion and rotation, I would suddenly start crying. It offered this release.”

She believes movement, breathing, mobility, and nervous system regulation are deeply connected.

“Your brain, your balance, your proprioception, everything shifts.”

Why Awareness Is the First Step

One of the most interesting things both instructors discussed was how disconnected many people become from parts of their body.

“The brain disconnects from painful areas,” Maggie explains.

That is why so much of Pilates starts with learning how to feel movement properly again.

For many clients, this can initially feel frustrating.

Especially on the Reformer.

“It’s humbling,” says Maddie. “You have to throw the ego in the bin.”

But over time, awareness becomes empowering.

Clients begin recognising movement patterns, postural habits, and compensations they never noticed before.

And that is often where long term improvement begins.

Why Consistency Matters

Both Maddie and Maggie still manage scoliosis symptoms today.

And both emphasise the same thing:

Consistency matters.

“If I stop doing my exercises, I feel my body start crashing down,” says Maggie.

Maddie agrees.

“The stronger you are, the more supported your body is.”

For both instructors, Pilates is not a quick fix.

It is part of long term self management.

And that is exactly how we approach movement at Absolute Studios.

Pilates at Absolute Studios

At Absolute Studios, our approach combines:
• coaching led classes
• movement awareness
• strength based Pilates
• individual adaptations
• small class sizes
• science informed coaching

We believe movement should help people understand their bodies better, not fear them.

And for clients with scoliosis, that understanding can be transformative.

As Maggie puts it:

“Pilates was the starting point for everything.”

Thinking About Trying Reformer Pilates for Scoliosis?

If you have scoliosis and are thinking about trying Reformer Pilates, we would always recommend starting with:
• a beginner class
• or a 1:1 session

That allows our coaches to understand your movement patterns, limitations, and goals properly.

Because every spine is different.

And every person deserves coaching that reflects that.

Book a beginner class or 1:1 assessment at Absolute Studios to start moving with more strength, awareness, and confidence.

Sources:
NHS
Scoliosis Association UK
Journal of Physical Therapy Science
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)