Scoliosis Exercise

Schroth Exercises

The Schroth Method of scoliosis exercise was originally developed in Germany in the 1927 by a therapist Katarina Schroth to treat her own scoliosis. This methods have been  continually updated continually over the years has been research validated and has become one best evidence based scoliosis treatment program. These specific scoliosis exercises were designed to help people self manage scoliosis to relieve pain, improve function and avoid surgery. The Schroth Therapist can help mobilize the spine into rotation.

The major goals are to reduce the incidence of scoliosis progression, reduce the spinal deformity, improve mobility, postural stability, reduce pain, and improve cardiopulmonary function.

Schroth Method- Conscious Posture- Re-education of the mind-body system is encouraged in the Schroth Method using tactile stimulation, visual self inspection and focused movement.

Schroth Method Mobilization -  Adult scoliosis may require manual techniques to improve flexibilty and mobility to maximize the effects of the Schroth exercises. Patients are taught Scoliosis exercises to be done at home. This is done to encourage self help and self monitoring.

Schroth Method Exercises – Patients are taught Scoliosis exercises to be done at home. This is done to encourage self help and self monitoring.

The Schroth Method scoliosis exercise program is helpful for both adolescents and adults to help reduce the deformities caused by scoliosis by applying exercise to reshape the body in three dimensions. Since the patient is performing the action it improves their bodies neuromuscular control to helps establish new motor patterns that enable them to stop or reverse the progression of curvatures. In doing so they are also able to reduce or eliminate scoliosis related pain, improve mobility and stability of the spine as well as improve heart and lung function.

Begin with Breathing

When scoliosis curvatures in the trunk of the body impact the pelvis and rib cage the  diaphragm stops functioning properly on one side of the body. This can be seen by a rib hump on one side and a flattened area on the other.

The Schroth Method helps correct this by teaching the patient specific Directional Breathing techniques to engage the weakened side of the diaphragm and re-pattern their breath to push out the flattened area on concave side of the spine.

 (MRI Cross Section with arrows showing Directional Breathing)

Postural Re-education

The Schroth Method utilizes very specific isometric postural exercises that help stabilize the muscles of the pelvis and spine in both the static and dynamic postures that re-establish new  movement patterns to help stop and in many cases even reverse scoliosis curvatures.

Scroth Exercises are taught to our patients in our office near Tacoma by our Schroth Certified Instructors as part of a Comprehensive Scoliosis Program.

To find out if the Schroth Method of scoliosis exercises is right for you call our office today and ask to speak with one of our doctors.  They provide Free Telephone Consultations to discuss your particular case of scoliosis to find out if the Schroth Method or one of our other non-surgical scoliosis treatment programs is right for you.