ADHD & Scoliosis: The Uncovered Connection

Scoliosis can be hard, creating extra time to work on Scoliosis exercises or making sure you are wearing the brace as prescribed can certainly be a challenge at times. But add on ADHD and now things just got that much harder! 

I’m gonna be real with you for a second. Personally, I have scoliosis and also struggle with ADHD at times. I find it difficult to create a routine especially having a flexible schedule and working from home (which I am super grateful for!), it can be hard to manage time when there is so much freedom. I find it hard to set aside time for my scoliosis exercises, let alone even remember to do them! I often forget and sometimes get upset at myself for not being more on top of things. I think ADHD is often not completely or compassionately understood and can create additional challenges when it comes to managing scoliosis care.

So what is ADHD?

When people hear the term ADHD, they often think of distraction, restlessness, or difficulty sitting still. But there’s much more to it than that. ADHD  or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a personality flaw or lack of motivation. It affects the way the brain regulates attention, impulses, and emotions.

At STC Therapy, we recognize that living with scoliosis is not just about posture or pain, it’s about identity, focus, self-esteem, and mental energy. When ADHD is also present, it can influence how someone manages the emotional, physical, and practical challenges of scoliosis.

🌟 ADHD Is Not About Trying Harder

ADHD is often misunderstood as a “focus problem,” but it’s really about self-regulation, the brain’s ability to manage attention, energy, and emotions. People with ADHD can hyperfocus on things that interest them and struggle with tasks that don’t spark engagement, even if they’re important.

This isn’t laziness. It’s a difference in how the brain’s reward and attention systems function.

⚙️ The Three Main Types of ADHD

1️⃣ Inattentive Type

People with this type may appear distracted, forgetful, or daydreamy. They may:

• Have difficulty staying organized

• Lose track of details or items

• Struggle to complete tasks

• Seem “spacey” or unmotivated

This type is sometimes overlooked, especially in girls and women, because it’s less disruptive than hyperactivity.

2️⃣ Hyperactive-Impulsive Type

This type shows up as:

• Constant fidgeting or movement

• Impulsivity (acting before thinking)

• Interrupting others

• Difficulty sitting still or relaxing
  

This form is often recognized in childhood but can persist into adulthood, showing up as mental restlessness or needing to stay constantly busy.

3️⃣ Combined Type

The most common form, combining symptoms of both inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity. Someone with this type may have trouble focusing, staying still, and managing impulses at the same time.

⚙️ How ADHD Affects the Scoliosis Experience

ADHD impacts attention regulation, impulse control, and emotional processing. These same factors can influence how someone experiences and manages a spinal condition like scoliosis.

Here’s how the two may interact:

1️⃣ Executive Function and Treatment Adherence

Managing scoliosis often involves routines, brace wear schedules, physical therapy, posture awareness, and medical appointments. For someone with ADHD, maintaining consistency can feel exhausting. Executive function challenges (such as remembering, planning, and organizing) can make brace adherence or exercise follow-through difficult, even with the best intentions.

This isn’t about lack of motivation or care, it’s about how the ADHD brain processes structure and reward.

2️⃣ Sensory Sensitivity

Many people with ADHD experience heightened sensory sensitivity. The pressure or tightness of a scoliosis brace, or even awareness of asymmetry in the body, can feel overwhelming. This can increase irritability, anxiety, or body-related distress, especially during adolescence.

3️⃣ Emotional Regulation and Pain Perception

ADHD is associated with emotion dysregulation, which can amplify the emotional impact of chronic pain or discomfort. When the brain’s stress systems are over-activated, pain signals can feel louder. Over time, this can contribute to increased frustration, fatigue, or avoidance of movement.

4️⃣ Self-Image and Identity

Adolescents with both ADHD and scoliosis may be at greater risk of appearance anxiety, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal. Difficulties with focus, impulsivity, or feeling “different” from peers can layer on top of visible posture changes or brace wear, making self-confidence a daily challenge.

🌿 Tips for Managing ADHD and Scoliosis Care

Living with both ADHD and scoliosis means caring for both your brain and body, and understanding how they interact. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s building routines that work with your brain, not against it.

🧠 1. Simplify Your Scoliosis Routine

Break scoliosis care into small, doable steps instead of one big task.

• Instead of “do my exercises,” try: “put yoga mat down,” “open playlist,” “do 2 stretches.”

• Use visual checklists or whiteboards to make progress visible (the ADHD brain loves dopamine from seeing boxes checked off).

⏰ 2. Set External Reminders, Not Just Mental Ones

The ADHD brain struggles with time blindness.

• Use phone alarms, sticky notes, or habit apps to cue brace wear, exercise time, or posture breaks.

• Try “pairing habits” for example, putting your brace on right after brushing your teeth or doing your scoliosis exercises while watching a favourite show.

🪞 3. Reduce Sensory Overload

If wearing a brace feels uncomfortable or distracting:

• Try moisture-wicking undershirts or soft fabrics underneath the brace.

• Schedule brace-free moments for sensory breaks (with your orthotist’s guidance).

• Create a calming space when changing or stretching, soft lighting, calming scents, music.

💪 4. Reward Yourself for Consistency, Not Perfection

Motivation systems in ADHD brains respond best to reward and novelty, not pressure.

• Build in small rewards (a favourite snack, playlist, or 10-minute break) after completing care tasks.

• Use positive self-talk instead of guilt: “I did my best today” > “I didn’t do enough.”

💬 5. Advocate and Communicate

Let your scoliosis care team know about your ADHD. Orthotists, physiotherapists, and therapists can help adapt routines to your attention style, shorter sessions, visual instructions, or flexible schedules.

🌸 6. Manage Stress and Emotional Fatigue

Living with both ADHD and scoliosis can heighten stress, shame, or body frustration.

• Practice mindfulness and grounding techniques to calm the nervous system.

• Use therapy to process emotions around brace wear, pain, or self-image.

• Remember that emotional dysregulation can make pain feel more intense, calming the mind helps the body too.

📅 7. Build Predictability with Flexibility

Routines are helpful, but rigidity can backfire for ADHD brains.

• Try using a flexible structure: “movement block” instead of “exercise at 6:00.”

• Visual planners or colour-coded calendars can make scheduling more engaging and less overwhelming.

💛 8. Work with a Supportive Therapist

A therapist who understands both ADHD and scoliosis can help you:

• Build executive function strategies

• Improve self-image and self-compassion

• Learn body awareness and pain management techniques

• Create a personalized plan for consistency and emotional balance

🧘‍♀️ How Therapy Can Help

At STC Therapy, we take a whole-person approach to support clients managing ADHD and scoliosis. Sessions may include:

✅ Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to manage negative thought patterns around pain or self-image.
✅ Mindfulness and grounding to reduce sensory overload and improve body awareness.
✅ Executive function tools (visual reminders, habit stacking, routine design) to improve brace adherence or daily self-care.
✅ Pain reprocessing and nervous-system education to help the brain interpret pain signals more accurately.
✅ Identity and self-compassion work to help teens (and adults) feel empowered beyond their diagnoses.

💬 You’re Not Alone

If you or your child lives with both ADHD and scoliosis, remember: your challenges are valid and they make sense. These two conditions interact in ways that can complicate daily life, but they can also build incredible resilience, creativity, and empathy.

Learning to understand your brain and body as a connected system, not separate problems, is the first step toward healing.

✨ At STC Therapy, we specialize in supporting individuals with scoliosis, chronic pain, ADHD, and anxiety, helping you reconnect with your body, reduce shame, and find sustainable ways to thrive.

📅 Ready to learn tools that support both your mind and spine?
Book a virtual session to start your journey toward managing ADHD and Scoliosis Care.