Schroth Classifications

I just returned home from treating a pleasant young adolescent who came to Boston from out-of-state to learn Schroth. She was accompanied by her parents. As we began the evaluation, her father, an MD, looked at me and said, “I read the book, and I’m not sure if her curve classification is a three curve or a four curve.” I had to admit, he was right to be a little confused because she has an atypical curve. However, the majority of scoliosis curves are unique due to the many factors that must be considered when looking at a curve three-dimensionally.

This father’s statement got me to thinking about something I had heard recently; that there are a some pilates and yoga instructors, as well as some health care practitioners, who are reading Christa Lehnert Schroth’s book and attempting to teach the Schroth method to patients. The point of this post is that great caution must be taken when classifying scoliotic curves according to Schroth. It is essential that the accurate classification be applied in order to implement the correct treatment. If you are considering Schroth, please choose wisely and go to one of the few certified Schroth healthcare practitioners in the US.