Recovery & Support for Scoliosis & Kyphosis

Medical or surgical treatment is often just one part of a comprehensive treatment plan designed to improve your ability to move and to reduce any pain associated with scoliosis or kyphosis. Rehabilitation, pain management, and wellness specialists at NYU Langone provide the individualized care and support you and your family need as you regain mobility and strength.

Rehabilitation

NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation is a nationally recognized treatment center that offers many services specifically for back, spine, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Our team of healthcare professionals is led by a physiatrist and can prescribe and coordinate therapies based on your needs and goals.

Physical therapy is a vital part of almost every recovery plan for people who have a pronounced spinal curve. Building back and core strength is essential to recovering functionality and improving mobility. After surgery, doctors and specialists at Rusk Rehabilitation provide inpatient therapy until you’re ready to go home. They can also refer you to physical therapists who can continue treatment either in your home or in an outpatient location convenient for you.

Pain Management

Our doctors understand that managing pain is a part of the recovery process, whether you’ve had surgery to correct an abnormal spinal curvature or are exploring noninvasive treatments. NYU Langone has a dedicated team of doctors who focus exclusively on pain relief. These specialists are available 24 hours a day and care for you throughout your recovery, including after you return home.

In addition, therapists at Rusk Rehabilitation offer complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, acupressure, and meditation, that can relieve pain and reduce stress and anxiety without medication.

Tobacco Cessation

Smoking is proven to decrease the chance of healing fully after any surgery. It inhibits bone from growing after a spinal fusion surgery, meaning the vertebrae may not fuse as intended. Pain can then return, and additional surgery may be necessary.

NYU Langone's Tobacco Cessation Programs offer counseling and treatment that can help you to quit, no matter how long you've been smoking.

Lifestyle Changes

Proper nutrition, weight management, and regular exercise—in particular, exercises that strengthen the core muscles of your thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and lower back—are essential to maintaining a healthy spine. Swimming and cycling are low-impact options that provide a cardiovascular workout without putting strain on the spine.

If weight loss is part of your care plan, the doctors and nutritionists at NYU Langone’s Weight Management Program are here to help you make positive changes one day at a time. Our experts help you create healthy meal plans, set realistic goals, and incorporate fitness into your lifestyle. In addition, our support groups offer emotional support.

Our experts provide medical and emotional support as you recover from any treatment for scoliosis or kyphosis, with the goal of helping you to return to your everyday routine as soon as possible.