Can you do strength training if you have scoliosis?

Short answer

Yes. People who exercised saw their curves grow less, and strength training reduced the curve angle by 3.43 degrees more than other approaches. Among 34 fully grown adults who exercised, 68% improved.

Can you do strength training if you have scoliosis?
'Weight on a curved spine → more curve' — does this formula hold?
A common belief is that if your spine curves sideways (scoliosis), you should not lift weights. We checked how much scoliosis affects the body, and whether exercise makes the curve worse.
Does scoliosis hold you back?
After 50 years, daily function was still high
A study that followed 117 people with untreated scoliosis for 50 years found survival of 55%, close to the 57% expected for the general population, and a high level of daily function. Long-term back pain was more common (61% vs 35% in the comparison group), but 68% of those with pain had only mild or moderate pain.
Does exercise make it curve more?
Those who did not exercise curved more
511 people who were still growing, with curves of 11 to 25 degrees, were followed for 1 year. Those who did not play sports such as volleyball, dance or swimming had a 1.57 times higher risk of the curve growing by 5 degrees or more, and a 1.85 times higher risk of needing a brace. The more days a week they played sports, the less their curves grew.
What about strength training?
The curve shrank by more than 3 degrees extra
A 2024 analysis that pooled 19 studies of 778 people with mild to moderate scoliosis found that strength training reduced the curve angle by 3.43 degrees more than other approaches. That was close to the 3.48 degrees for a scoliosis-specific exercise method (Schroth). 12 weeks was enough, and sessions longer than 60 minutes did not help more.
What about pain and daily life?
People who exercised hurt less
A 2025 analysis of 9 randomized trials with 571 people found that exercise improved the curve angle by 3.31 degrees more than other treatments without exercise. Scores for pain, daily activity and satisfaction with one's own body were also higher in those who exercised.
What about fully grown adults?
34 people exercised for 2 years, and 68% improved
34 adults with large curves (55.8 degrees on average) did scoliosis exercises 2 times a week for 45 minutes, for 2 years on average. The curve shrank in 68%, by 4.6 degrees on average. Only 1 person (3%) got worse, by 5 degrees over 18 years.
How were the weights lifted?
One-sided versions worked the muscles on the inner side of the curve harder
16 people did barbell rows, lat pulldowns, presses and Roman chair back raises, either evenly on both sides or shifted to one side. The one-sided versions of the barbell row, Roman chair and press made the back muscles on the inner side of the curve work harder. This was muscle activity measured in a single session.
Summary: scoliosis did not rule out strength training
The formula breaks at 'weight → more curve'
People who exercised curved less, and strength training reduced the curve angle by 3.43 degrees more. Among 34 fully grown adults, 68% improved with exercise. The exercise in these studies ran 12 weeks or longer, with sessions under 60 minutes.