The Schroth Method of scoliosis is an evidence bases, research validated, scoliosis exercise program that was initially developed in Germany in the 1930’s by Katarina Schroth for her own scoliosis. Her original methods have been continually updated and perfected since that time and are still the prime method of treating scoliosis in Germany. They have been proven to be highly effective for scoliosis because they were was specifically designed to help patients manage their scoliosis curvatures in order to avoid surgery or rigid bracing.
The Schroth Method’s scoliosis specific exercise program is designed for both children and adults and is used to reduce the rotational deformity associated with scoliosis. The method applies specific, unidirectional exercise to reshape the body in three dimensions through enhancing a patient’s neuromuscular control to establish new and improved motor patterns of the body. In doing this, patients are able to stop or reverse the progression of curvatures, reduce postural rotation of the body, reshape the rib cage and reduce of eliminate pain associated with their scoliosis. This improves their body’s mobility, stability and heart and lung function.
It All Starts with the Breath
Because of the rotational curvatures scoliosis the patient’s diaphragm has stopped functioning properly. This is evidenced by one side of the body having a rib hump while the other side having a flattened area of the ribs.
To correct this imbalance the Schroth Method teaches specific Directional Breathing Exercises retrains the diaphragm to work more efficiently and teaches the patient to re-pattern their breathing toward the flattened area to focus an expansion of the concave side of the spine during inspiration.
Corrective Postural Re-patterning
The Schroth Method utilizes isometic postural exercises with scoliosis to stabilize the muscles of the pelvis and spine in corrected postures and movement to counter act the imbalances that have added to the progression of the scoliosis curvatures. Over time, these Schroth Method isometric postural exercises can recondition the movement patterns to help stop and even reverse scoliosis curvatures in the lumbar spine.
Although scoliosis is not often found to be painful in adolescents, it can cause considerable pain and sometimes debilitating pain in adults. The Schroth Method of specific corrective scoliosis exercises can be quite helpful in adults for relieving that pain by helping reduce the abnormal postural stresses to the body that have causes the degenerative changes to the spine that have resulted in pain.
Scroth Exercises are now available to our patients in our Chicago office and are taught by our Schroth Certified Instructors. They are used as part of a comprehensive scoliosis program and are used in conjunction with an Elastic Tension Orthosis called SpineCor to provide faster pain relief and even better and more lasting results overall. It does this by allowing the exercises to provide even more correction and effective stabilization.
For more information on the Schroth Method as part of an comprehensive scoliosis treatment program in the Chicago area contact us at (847)562-5317
Dr. Brett Diaz, D.C.
Director of Patient Education
Spine Cor Center of Chicago
2565 Shermer Road
Northbrook IL 60062
(847)562-5317
looking for schroth method treatment in ne ohio, and leads would be most appreciated. 56 degree and progressing, female age 51 post surgical menopause with osteopenia. Thank you,
Carolyn Sunday
csunday@att.net
Hello, my name is Cat and we first found out that my daughter Caitlyn had severe scoliosis about 2 years ago. Our orthopedist recommended a scoliosis surgery the first time he saw her saying given the severity of her scoliosis there was no other alternative.
Needless to say, we were not satisfied with that answer so we began to look for alternative scoliosis treatment on the web. That’s how we found SpineCor Center of Chicago and Dr. Gary Deutchman and Dr. Marc Lamantia. I called to schedule an appointment and I got a call back later that same day by Dr. Deutchman. We went over her case and he explained their approach to scoliosis treatment and that although her case was severe they had helped other teens with severe curves avoid surgery.
So we took a leap of faith and had Caitlyn fitted for a SpineCor brace that same day.
She said the brace wasn’t really as hard to wear as she had imagined it might be and she quickly got used to wearing it under her cloths. Because she can easily hide it underneath her cloths no one knows she’s wearing it and half the time she says that she doesn’t even realize it’s on.
Since he has been in it for a couple of years now her scoliosis is stable. In fact, there was even improvement in her curvatures! As long as she continues wearing her SpineCor brace and doing her scoliosis exercises regularly at home she should be able to avoid surgery and manage her scoliosis on her own. Then all the time and expense we’ve committed will be worth it. We are so thankful to Dr. Deutchman and Dr. Lamantia for their help.