Advance Physical Therapy

Advance Physical Therapy

Certified Postural Restoration Center · C2 Advanced Schroth Certified Scoliosis Therapists (BSPTS)

Certified Postural Restoration Center · C2 Advanced Schroth Certified Scoliosis Therapists (BSPTS)

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Library of Articles
  • Our Practice
    • About Our Practice
    • Postural Restoration
    • Our Staff (click for bios)
    • Testimonials
    • Take a Virtual Tour
  • Programs
    • Pediatric Rehabilitation
    • Personal Training with Philip DeNigris
    • PRI Style Bodywork and Traditional Massage Therapy
    • Sports and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
    • Pre Op/Post Op Rehabilitation
    • PRI Foot Orthotics and Footwear
  • Scoliosis
    • FAQ: Schroth/Scoliosis Program
    • Scoliosis Resources
  • Payments
  • Patients and Providers
    • Patient Forms
    • Provider Forms
    • Insurance FAQ’s
    • Advance Physical Therapy Vaccination & Masking Policy
    • Privacy Practices Notice
    • No Surprises Act
  • Find Us

What is Scoliosis Specific Exercise?

July 12, 2017 by Jean Massé

Scoliosis can have many forms. We have general categories for scoliosis and spine curvatures, but each is unique. Scoliosis Specific Exercise are designed to balance scoliosis curves.  They address the unique curvatures of each person.

Asymmetry is something all scoliosis curves have in common. Asymmetries occur in 3 dimensions: 1) Front to back, 2) Side to side, 3) Rotation. With both the Schroth Method and Postural Restoration, we address all 3 aspects of the curvature to balance asymmetry. Our patients begin Scoliosis Specific Exercise with front to back correction, then side to side. Rotation will then follow.

In the front to back, curves are known as either lordosis (most commonly increased arching in the low back), or kyphosis (increased rounding in the back, most often the upper back).  In the side to side dimension curves are often a C-shape or an S-shape. The C-shape is considered a “3-curve” using Schroth terminology. The S-shape is considered a “4-curve” in Schroth terminology. Rotational curves can be seen when a person bends forward, and one side of the back is more prominent. Also, in the front of their body one side of the rib cage is often more protruded than the other.

Precise exercise positions place the body so that a person’s muscles, previously underused, are activated. Muscles targeted are different on the right and on the left depending on the person’s curve pattern. Wedges, towel rolls, bolsters, stools, poles, bars, bands, balls, are a few tools we use. These help us for positioning our patient, to give sensory input to our patient, and to guide the patient’s muscle activity. Once in the corrected position, specific breathing techniques are used to expand restricted, concave areas. Breathing alone is a powerful tool for repositioning the spine and rib cage.

Scoliosis Specific Exercise
Postural Restoration based spinal correction activity
Scoliosis Specific Exercise
Schroth based spinal correction activity

Scoliosis exercises are progressed as a person gains mastery of each position and breathing technique. The Schroth Method outlines basic Principles of Correction that include mental focus on changing the body’s habits.

Scoliosis Specific Exercises are challenging. They are also empowering and offer a deep and enduring awareness of our body position, breathing and postural balance.

Filed Under: blog, Education, Postural Restoration, Schroth Based Therapy, Scoliosis Tagged With: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, adolescent scoliosis, Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School, conservative management scoliosis, conservative treatment for scoliosis, Jean Masse Scoliosis, Lisa Mangino Scoliosis, New York Times Scoliosis, postural restoration, Schroth, Schroth Method, scoliosis, scoliosis exercises, Susan Henning Scoliosis

Avatar photo

About Jean Massé

Jean Masse PT, DPT, PRC, OCS, ATC has never stopped working to understand the elegance of human structure and movement. She blends her passion for movement and function with patience, knowledge and consideration of each patient as an individual

Article Library (View All)

Video Library: Single Leg Hip Hinge

Our New Video Library: The Push-Up

Welcome Philip DeNigris CSCS, LMT, PRT

What does it mean to be “hypermobile”?

Protected: Radiograph Review by Physical Therapists Treating Scoliosis

Advice from Experts on How to Work From Home Comfortably

TAI CHI CLASS NOW AVAILABLE ON ZOOM

Manual Physical Therapy Through the Internet?

SHOULDER HELP FOR HOME (Part Two)   

SHOULDER HELP FOR HOME

NEW VIDEO POSTURAL RESTORATION CLASSES

Telehealth by Physical Therapists?

What’s bite got to do with it? 

Scoliosis Education Opportunity for Clinicians

We’re Hiring PT’s for Adult and Pediatric Spine Care

14th International Meeting of Scientific Society of Scoliosis Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Treatment (“SOSORT”)

Scoliosis Resources

Treatment of Scoliosis: 2018 International Recommendations

Molly Miller, DPT Schroth Certified

Scoliosis: 2017 Year in Review

Advance Physical Therapy is a physical therapist owned practice offering quality rehabilitation to clients in Chapel Hill, Durham, Carrboro, Pittsboro, Cary and surrounding areas of the Triangle in North Carolina.

Our therapists are highly experienced in traditional physical therapy techniques and have specialized expertise in a variety of areas including Postural Restoration, Manual Therapy, Counterstrain, Schroth based Scoliosis Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Sports Medicine, Orthotics and Personal Training.

77 South Elliott Road · Chapel Hill, NC 27514 · (919) 932-7266 - Map It

Copyright © 2023 Advance Physical Therapy · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design