SCOLIOSIS 3DC-Schroth Method Exercise

Goals:

• Pain relief or reduction

• Stabilization through improved body mechanics

• Halt scoliotic curve progression

• Improved pulmonary capacity

• Improve strength and flexibility

• Prevent or delay surgery

• Improved postural appearance

• Maintenance of corrections during daily activities

• Empowerment through knowledge and the ability to manage one’s own unique curve(s)

  Adult Program:

Mild Curves: 10-20°

For skeletally mature patients with a mild curve, we treat based on the “Best Practice” protocols, specifically including:

• Physiologic®-a technique used to mobilize the spine in the sagittal plane
• 3D Made Easy-instruction in ADL’s (activities of daily living). The patient learns to correct the spine during a variety of dynamic activities. ADL’s are practiced to increase patient awareness of posture during daily activities. These are relatively easy to learn, but require compliance and intensive work to become cognizant of the new posture. The primary advantage of daily activities instruction is that, with practice, ADL’s allow the patient to relieve the asymmetric loading of the main scoliotic curve reducing the possibility of scoliotic progression
• Spinal Mobilization-hands on therapy- above, at and below the apex of a curve- providing derotation and deflexion of the spine
• Schroth introduction of appropriate exercises

This program for mild curves is less time intensive than the programs for moderate and severe curves. Please call us and after discussing your case, and viewing your records we will be better able to provide you with a time frame for your individualized program.

Upper Mild to Lower Moderate Curves: 20-30°

Our program for patients with curves in this range incorporates everything in our Mild Program, plus introduces Schroth curve-pattern specific scoliosis exercises that are appropriate to each individual’s curve.

Moderate to Severe Curves - 30°+

This program includes everything in the mild and moderate programs, but also institutes additional Schroth exercises, offering the most comprehensive ‘Best Practice’ and Schroth programs available for patients with scoliosis.

We understand that you are busy. We typically schedule local patients for 10, two-hour appointments over the course of about a month. The closer the frequency  the better, based on the learning curve of Schroth. For out of town patients, we offer a one week intensive course. A typical patient will arrive on Sunday for an comprehensive examination and anatomy lesson pertaining to her/his specific scoliotic curve. The patient then comes daily through Saturday for three hour long appointments with Dr. Moramarco to learn and master ADL’s, spinal mobilization, and Schroth exercises. On the final visit we will create a DVD of your specific program to take home to use as a reference when practicing.

What You Can Expect When You Become a Patient at Scoliosis 3DC:

Meet with Dr. Moramarco to review, in detail, the history of your scoliosis and x-rays followed by a comprehensive examination based on a complete scoliosis history considering age, type of curve, Cobb angle(s), health and family medical history, experience with bracing and/or scoliosis alternatives.

•Visual Inspection: observation of curve(s), shoulders, hips, head, pelvis, knees, ankles, feet-from front, back and sides.

•Specific tests: range of motion, flexibility, scoliometer measurement, spirometry, chest expansion, palpation, muscle strength and gait analysis.

An anatomy lesson focusing on your unique scoliosis. This is central to understanding the Schroth breathing exercises because you must be able to internalize the concepts of the Schroth three-dimensional corrections that are the foundation of the scoliosis exercises and rotational breathing technique.

Each patient will receive a scoliosis manual, and a workbook, to document the status of his/her unique scoliosis – past, present and future.

Digital photos are taken to document posture for future comparison.

Patient are instructed in ‘Best Practice’ and Schroth postural corrections as determined by an individual’s curve including Schroth exercises, Schroth rotational breathing and stabilization

Instruction in corrections in the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes.

Instruction in activities of daily living to help maintain postural corrections to reduce the risk of curve progression.

A DVD as a helpful resource to refer to when performing the exercises at home