Schroth

History of the Schroth Method

Established in Germany in 1921, by Katharina Schroth, this curve pattern specific scoliosis technique has been refined over the years by the founder’s daughter, physical therapist Christa Lehnert-Schroth, and grandson and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Weiss, at the inpatient clinic bearing the name of Katharina Schroth set in Germany’s Rhineland. The method originated when Katharina was told she had scoliosis and would require surgery. Unwilling to have surgery, she immediately began to devise a way to put scoliosis in check and it became her life’s work. The Schroth Method has been practiced in Germany since then, and it is just in the last few years that the Schroth Method has spread all over the globe as scoliosis patients look for alternatives to watch and wait, bracing, and surgery for scoliosis treatment.

Schroth Method Explained

The Schroth Method is a non-surgical, conservative treatment program for scoliosis consisting of curve-specific exercises and corrective breathing techniques. However, Schroth ‘exercises’ for scoliosis are not typical of what a person thinks when they think of exercise. These scoliosis specific exercises are performed from the “core” or trunk and used to correct the spine in three dimensions through specific movements accompanied by “rotational breathing”, a technique developed in Germany years ago by founder Katharina Schroth. The purpose is to derotate, deflex and to correct the spine in the sagital plane while elongating the spine. Consistently working to correct the spine in this manner is the key to successfully incorporating the Schroth Mehtod into a scoliosis patient’s life.

The Schroth Method is unique because it focuses the patient to think about re-establishing spinal symmetry. In scoliosis, the muscles along the spine become imbalanced on opposite sides. So, a patient must learn to shorten (tighten) the muscles on the convex side of the spine and lengthen the muscles on the concave side of the spine. Initially, this is no easy task and requires dedication on the part of both the clinician and patient. The Schroth Method then incorporates a unique technique called ‘rotational’ or ‘rotatory’ breathing. Simply stated, the patient is taught to breathe into the concave side of the trunk in order to rotate the ribs allowing them to return to a more ‘normal’ physiological position. Following this ‘inhalation’ phase, comes the ‘exhalation’ phase of Schroth, known as 3D stabilization. 3D stabilization helps restore a more stable three-dimensional spinal alignment. This helps the patient experience the feeling of the corrected spinal posture in order to recognize how to maintain it. The patient should strive to use this postural awareness during daily activities. More information is available at Christa Lehnert-Schroth’s site under Treatment concept of the Schroth Method.”

Schroth Sidelying Muscle Cylinder Exercise

A little more on corrective breathing for scoliosis…

Corrective rotational breathing is a major component of the Schroth method. The focus is on changing the patient’s breathing pattern in order to decrease the risk of scoliotic curve progression. The patient focuses on the expansion of the collapsed concave areas during inspiration.  This enhances mobility and promotes a more balanced posture. The basis for the use of this technique can be found in the paper, “The Effect of an Exercise Program on Vital Capacity and Rib Mobility in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis,” by Hans-Rudolf Weiss, M.D.