#29 - Inspirational Interview | Barbell Training With Scoliosis, Osteoarthritis & Osteopenia

#29 - Inspirational Interview | Barbell Training With Scoliosis, Osteoarthritis & Osteopenia

Author: Dr. Rori Alter, PT, SSC, PRSCC January 21, 2023 Duration: 24:42

People often wonder if it's safe to barbell training or powerlift if you have scoliosis or osteoarthritis in your joints. When done correctly, barbell resistance training is one of the best ways to reduce joint pain, improve posture, and slow the progression of your curvature and bone loss due to osteopenia and osteoporosis.

 

Our goal with bringing on some of our clients is to share their unique stories, experiences with barbell training, and how their training has impacted their lives positively despite the negative medical narratives and belief systems surrounding barbell strength training in hopes that it inspires even just one person out there. 

 

In this series of interviews each episode consists of a PRS client sharing their journey of overcoming injuries and illnesses, recovering from surgeries, and navigating changes in their lives and the role that barbell training has played throughout this process for each of them. These are just a handful of our clients that are truly inspiring and motivating and we hope that sharing their stories will inspire you, your patients or clients, or your family to incorporate barbell training into your life or continue barbell training during challenging times.

 

In this interview, we'll sit down and speak with PRS client Jennie, a 58 year old librarian, living with arthritis in both knees and her right hip, osteopenia, and scoliosis. Before embarking on her barbell training journey, Jennie was dealing with pain and weakness and was working with a physical therapist who had her doing resistance band exercises at the same loads and rep ranges for nearly two years. Luckily, Jennie's son introduced her to barbell training and guided her along as a novice lifter. However, she struggled with technique and started to notice that she didn't look even when she was lifting. Because of her scoliosis and arthritic pain Jennie was not confident to continue barbell training independently. She was fearful of her hip shift, worsening her knees and hip, and how barbell training would affect her spine. 

 

Nearly 3 years after regularly engaging in barbell training and progressive overload, Jennie can confidently say she is no longer fearful of imperfection under the barbell or worsening her scoliosis. We hope that by sharing Jennie's story, we can positively influence someone who has been told that squatting is bad for their knees or loading their spine will worsen their scoliosis, to get under the barbell and reap the positive benefits it will have on their life.



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Get in touch with the show!

Web: https://www.progressiverehabandstrength.com

Email: podcast@progressiverehabandstrength.com

Rori IG: @rorimegan_prs

Alyssa IG: @alyssahope_prs


Hosted by Dr. Rori Alter and Dr. Alyssa Haveson, Progressive Rehab & Strength is a conversation for those who take lifting seriously, whether for sport or for life. Both hosts are practicing physical therapists and certified strength coaches with deep roots in powerlifting, giving them a unique, dual-perspective on the body under load. This podcast digs into the nuanced intersection of rehabilitation and performance, moving beyond generic advice. You’ll hear practical discussions on programming for longevity, managing training around injuries, and navigating the technical demands of the barbell lifts. The aim is to strip away confusion and provide actionable insights that help athletes and coaches build resilient, sustainable careers-both in the gym and in their professional practices. It’s a resource for critical thinkers who want their approach to strength to be informed by both clinical expertise and hard-earned experience on the platform. Tune in for a blend of science, real-world application, and straight talk from two professionals who live in this space every day.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Progressive Rehab & Strength
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