Correct in 3D
We first classify your curve pattern from your exam and X-rays. Then you learn to lengthen the spine (elongation), turn the rotated sections back toward center (derotation), and shift the trunk out of its sideways bend (deflexion).
Schroth Best Practice certified · Woodstock, GA
Schroth Method scoliosis care in Woodstock
Scoliosis is three-dimensional, so your exercises should be too. As a chiropractor certified through Schroth Best Practice, I teach teens and adults curve-specific corrections, breathing, and posture habits they can use every day, in step with their orthopedist’s plan.
What the Schroth Method is
The Schroth Method is a form of physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercise (PSSE). Katharina Schroth developed it in Germany in the early 1900s to manage her own scoliosis, and her grandson, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Weiss, later developed Schroth Best Practice, an updated, simplified version of the method. That’s the program I’m certified in.
Unlike general stretching or core work, every exercise is chosen for your curve pattern. The aim is to elongate, derotate, and stabilize the spine in all three planes, then carry those corrections into everyday life.
How it works
Three ideas behind every session
Schroth is active work. I guide and cue you, but the corrections are yours, and the goal is that you can do them on your own.
Breathe into the curve
Rotational angular breathing directs each breath into the collapsed, concave areas of the rib cage, then holds the correction as you exhale. It’s one of the most distinctive parts of the method.
Make it a daily habit
Using mirrors and touch cues, you build awareness of how your posture feels when corrected. Then we practice those corrections while sitting, standing, and carrying a backpack, and you take home a short daily program.
Who it helps
Is Schroth a fit for you?
- Adolescents during growth with idiopathic scoliosis, often alongside observation or bracing as directed by their orthopedist or pediatrician
- Teens in a brace who want to work on posture, strength, and breathing out of the brace
- Adults with scoliosis who live with back pain, stiffness, or worry about their curve progressing
- Anyone who has been told to “just watch it” and wants an active, home-based plan while they do
Working with your doctor: Schroth complements medical care; it doesn’t replace it. I coordinate with your orthopedist, follow their recommendations on bracing and imaging, and will refer you back if anything changes.
Your sessions
What a session looks like
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Assessment
We review your history and X-rays, measure trunk rotation, look at posture and breathing, and identify your curve pattern so exercises match your spine.
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Guided exercise
You practice corrections with simple tools such as wall bars, poles, and rolls or wedges for support, using a mirror and my hands-on cues to find the right position.
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Home program
You leave with a short, written routine to practice most days. Follow-up visits progress your exercises and check that your corrections are still on target.
The research
What the evidence suggests
Research on Schroth is growing and encouraging, though most studies are small and short-term. In randomized trials of adolescents, supervised Schroth exercise added to standard care was linked to small improvements in curve measurements, trunk rotation, back-muscle endurance, pain, and self-image compared with standard care alone. The 2016 SOSORT guidelines support scoliosis-specific exercise as part of conservative care during growth, and a 2024 Cochrane review notes the evidence is promising but still limited.
What that means for you: Schroth may help slow progression and improve posture, breathing, and quality of life. It isn’t a cure, and I won’t promise to straighten a spine. Consistent home practice and ongoing care with your orthopedist matter most.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a scoliosis diagnosis before starting Schroth?
It helps. Please bring any recent X-rays and reports from your orthopedist or pediatrician. If you don’t have a diagnosis yet, I can do a screening exam and refer you for imaging and a medical evaluation first. Schroth works alongside your doctor’s plan, not in place of it.
Can Schroth exercises straighten my spine?
I can’t promise that, and no honest provider should. Research suggests supervised scoliosis-specific exercise may help slow progression and improve posture, back-muscle endurance, and quality of life, and some studies have shown small improvements in curve measurements. Results vary from person to person.
Is Schroth a replacement for bracing or surgery?
No. For a growing teen, your orthopedist decides whether observation, bracing, or surgery is right. Schroth is often used alongside observation or a brace, and I coordinate care with your orthopedist.
Is Schroth only for teenagers?
No. Adolescents during growth are a common focus, but adults with scoliosis-related back pain, stiffness, or concerns about progression can also learn a home program that fits their curve.
How often will I need to come in?
It depends on your curve, age, and goals. Most people start with a few closer-together sessions to learn their corrections, then check in periodically while they practice a daily home program. Consistency at home matters a lot.
Let’s talk about your curve
Send me a note with your (or your teen’s) age and any recent X-ray reports, and we’ll find a time to start.
Sources
- Negrini S, et al. 2016 SOSORT guidelines: orthopaedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth. Scoliosis and Spinal Disorders, 2018.
- Kuru T, et al. The efficacy of three-dimensional Schroth exercises in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a randomised controlled clinical trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 2016.
- Schreiber S, et al. The effect of Schroth exercises added to the standard of care on the quality of life and muscle endurance in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Scoliosis, 2015.
- Schreiber S, et al. Schroth physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises added to the standard of care lead to better Cobb angle outcomes in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. PLoS ONE, 2016.
- The effectiveness of Schroth exercises in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 2019.
- Cochrane. What type of therapeutic exercise is best for treating scoliosis in adolescents? (2024 review summary).
- Schroth Best Practice Academy, schrothbestpractice.com, and Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (BSPTS).
- Scoliosis Research Society. Scoliosis: patient information.
This page is general education, not medical advice. Please talk with your physician about your diagnosis and treatment options.