Sadly, there is no direct cure for scoliosis, and this condition affects over 3% of the population. The only thing that permanently helps with scoliosis is surgery, and even that’s not effective every time.
Corrective surgery might help reduce the spinal curvature, but there is no guarantee that it will not reoccur.
Living with scoliosis doesn’t have to be painful. Some exercises and methods help people suffering from it – and one of the most popular is the Schroth method. In this article, we’ll explore the Schroth method and everything it has to offer.
A Brief History of The Schroth Method
Schroth therapy is a viable form of therapy for scoliosis. It was developed by Katharina Schroth, a rehabilitation specialist, school teacher, and a person suffering from the disease. This method is one of the more viable solutions when you are living with scoliosis.
The important thing to note about the Schroth method is that it’s in no way a solution to scoliosis. It is a scoliosis management method where practitioners help scoliosis patients live with pain management and possible curve reduction.
Particular studies have determined that the Schroth method is a viable form of alternative treatment that helps scoliosis patients. This method is usually suggested and overseen by physical therapy specialists who monitor the progress, severity, and treatment results of scoliosis patients.
Through the years, the Schroth method has undergone evaluation, studies, and research. This has concluded it’s viability as a scoliosis management option. If you want to find a local practitioner, you should search for “Schroth physical therapy near me.” A person who wants a Schroth method certification has to finish a course.
What is the Schroth Method?
The Schroth method is a non-invasive and non-surgical treatment for scoliosis. It is based on purposefully devised exercises to help particular patients and their unique spinal curve pattern.
It is one of the more viable scoliosis treatment methods as it approaches sagittal, frontal, and transverse anatomical planes.
The Schroth method helps patients improve their body mechanics and augment their spinal stabilization to help them deal with their curvature, manage their pain, or even reduce juveniles’ and adolescents’ curvature.
This method is centered around the deflection, elongation, and derotation of the spine and rib cage, helping the patient improve their physiological position and effectively tackle scoliosis progression.
The Exercises
This method includes three different forms of exercise, all of which help the scoliosis patient deal with the illness – but all in different ways. The forms of exercises included in this method are sensory-motor, kinesthetic, cognitive, and breathing exercises.
There are more than a couple of unique exercises and exercise plans for treating scoliosis. Still, the Schroth method types can be classified into muscular, breathing, and posture exercise.
1. Muscular Exercises
Scoliosis takes a toll on the musculature of a person by quite a considerable margin. Based on the “c” or “s” shaped curvature in the back, either side’s muscles could be atrophied or overworked. Having disproportionate musculature can lead to more harm than good.
The Schroth method approaches this issue by working to eliminate the dissymmetry between the two sides of the back, actively targeting the atrophied side. Working on the muscular and functional aspects of both sides is a viable way to counter scoliosis progression and even reverse it if the patient is younger.
2. Breathing Exercises
Scoliosis doesn’t only cause back pain. It could cause severe breathing difficulties, and when combined with asthma or other pulmonary diseases, it could be quite hard. Depending on its curvature and severity, scoliosis could induce breathing difficulties due to lung restriction caused by the spinal curvature.
The Schroth method aims to eliminate breathing difficulties by having a 3D approach to the treatment process, actively shifting the spinal curvature out of the way. While improving the curvature state is a viable solution, the Schroth method approaches breathing itself through breathing exercises, allowing the patient to breathe in a way that will enable them to take full breaths even with certain lung restrictions.
3. Posture Exercises
Scoliosis can have quite a negative effect on the posture, and it could progress due to bad posture. Posture affects scoliosis in various ways, and improving it to fit the unique case is a sure way to counter it.
The Schroth method works to help the patient manage their scoliosis through posture exercise. Dealing with scoliosis through posture training is not the same for everyone, as every patient has a different curvature, which requires a different approach. Avoiding positions that make scoliosis worse is vital, and changing your daily posture could help treat the disease.
While Schroth method exercises are available online, you shouldn’t do them on your own. Every scoliosis case is unique, and having the wrong approach to your problem could do more harm than good.
If you’re thinking of utilizing the Schroth method to help you live with your scoliosis, you should seek the best Schroth method practitioners.
The Benefits of the Schroth Method
This method can help the patient live and function with scoliosis. There are numerous benefits to treatment via the Schroth method, such as:
- Reduced pain – this method is a fantastic way to reduce pain in scoliosis patients.
- Reduced curvature – the method works to reduce the curvature in young people before skeletal maturity.
- Improved breathing – due to the breathing exercise, the method improves lung function.
- Improved posture – better posture means less pain in daily life and better appearance.
- Better balance – since the method targets the muscle, it also works to improve balance.
- Improved flexibility – flexibility is a big issue with scoliosis patients, and this method works to improve it.
In Conclusion
The Schroth method is one of the best ways to treat scoliosis and is a fantastic alternative to traditional treatments or invasive surgery.
This non-surgical and non-invasive method has helped countless people live with their condition and improve their quality of life by a considerable margin.
While highly beneficial, it should always be left to scoliosis treatment professionals.
