Karate with scoliosis surgery?

Question

I had scoliosis (45 degrees) which was detected in the 7th grade. I had a surgery that fused my spine together a year later and I can't bend my spine or twist it. It has been 1 year and 9 months since the surgery. I'm very interested in taking up martial arts but before I start I want to know if I'll do a lot of bending and twisting as I progress and if I'll be ABLE to bend and twist without hurting myself too bad.

Answer 1

You should do a couple of things.  First, talk with the karate instructor *before* you start your class, tell him about your limitations, and ask him what the physical requirements of the karate classes are.  Second, if you have questions whether you'll hurt yourself or not, talk to your surgeon.

Answer 2

I highly recomend you take no advice from anyone on here that does not involve the following "this is something that you definetly need to take up with yoour doctor or the surgeon who performed your operation".

At the very least re-ask this question in the medical catogory. None of us knows you, or how extensive the operation was, and I do not know of anyone here qualified to give you the expert opinion that your doctor can.

Answer 3

Well it all depends on whether or not karate is considered a contact sport since after 6 months to a year you can do anything but contact sports. I don't remember my doctor listing karate as a contact sport, but I could be wrong. I would DEFFINETELY call my surgeon's office to ask the doctor. Have your doctor send you a list of all the things you can't do, and make sure they specifically answer the karate question.

Good luck! I hope you can do karate and I hope I can too!!!!