Schroth Therapy for Scoliosis
What is Schroth therapy?
Schroth Therapy is a conservative approach to treating Scoliosis and Scheuermann’s Kyphosis. Schroth is an excellent option for before or after surgery, or for those who surgery is not indicated for. We use specialized exercises to reduce pain, halt curve progression, improve pulmonary function, improve mobility and improve postural stability.
How does schroth therapy work?
Physical therapy for scoliosis is incredibly personalized. Each curve is different and each person responds differently to each exercise. Your child's initial appointment will include a thorough analysis using x-rays, curve measurements, and a functional movement assessment. Ideally x-rays are recent, but we can also utilize older x-rays to estimate how much the curve has changed over the years. Functional movement assessments typically include our licensed physical therapists and Schroth Therapist analyzing body mechanics, gait or walking style, and posture in various positions.
We will also spend time discussing your symptoms or concerns, previous therapy or attempted treatments, medical history, and day to day life. We want to understand any and all symptoms like low back, neck, or shoulder pain related to scoliosis; your history of chronic conditions or injury; and most importantly your day to day life so we can ensure your treatment plan will actually help you recover and start living without discomfort.
After our thorough clinical analysis and personal discussion, we then identify 2-3 Progressive Scoliosis Specific Exercises (PSSE) to teach your child. As a physical therapist, we create a personalized treatment plans to address the your unique challenges and goals, aiming to achieve improvement in function, mobility, and performance. These exercises should be completed by your child at home often to benefit the most from Schroth Thearpy. As your child masters these exercises, we will teach them new PSSE as tolerated.
Manual therapy may also be incorporated as part of the treatment to reduce muscle tension that has developed secondary to your child's curve and posture. Though manual therapy alone will not improve your curvature, it can be valuable in preparing the body for PSSE.
The course of therapy is designed to help reduce pain, maintain or improve curvature, and support long-term health. We encourage you to schedule an appointment to your rehabilitation journey and experience the success of individualized care. Patients may choose to complete a Schroth “Intensive”, attending therapy 1x/day, 5 days/week, for 2 weeks. Or patients may choose to complete a more typical program attending therapy 2-3x/week for 6-12 weeks.