What is Scoliosis Specific Exercise?
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 […]
Scoliosis and the Importance of Early Intervention
If you are reading this, there’s a good chance you or your child has scoliosis. I’m going to guess you have a pretty good sense of what scoliosis is. The most frustrating part for you might be trying to figure out what to do about it. Your MD may have said, “Come back in 4-6 […]
Physical Therapy Treatment for Shortness of Breath
One of the benefits of improving core strength through the Postural Restoration approach, is that is requires us to establish efficient breathing patterns (http://www.posturalrestoration.com/the-science/treatment). In doing so, many of my patients that come in with back or neck pain subsequently report that their breathing has improved along with their pain reduction. I have recently seen […]
Tips to Change Habits for Tension Relief
Don’t Be Controlled By Your Focal Vision “Powered Peripheral Vision”, Tips to Change Habits for Tension Relief Adapted from Dr. Heidi Wise, PRI Vision, LLC Focal vision refers to being focused on something small at any distance, from your phone to a golf ball far away on the green. Technology is partly contributing to our […]
The efficacy of three-dimensional Schroth exercises in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A randomised controlled clinical trial
It is always affirming to see support in the literature for the changes we see case by case at Advance Physical Therapy every day. Recently, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of professionally administered, 3 dimensional Schroth exercise program for the treatment of scoliosis. I think there are two key points […]
Release Your Neck!
Easier said than done, right? So why do necks stay so tight all the time? When we work with patients who have chronic neck pain and shoulder tension, we usually find dysfunctional breathing patterns directly related to poor core body postures. Did you know the best muscle for getting air into your body is the […]
Vicious to Virtuous Cycle in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis – Part 2
* Muscle Imbalance * Gravity * Breathing * Body Schema * Walking The Vicious Cycle describes how these factors, listed above begin to reinforce curvatures that have developed, often in hypermobile, restless, young people. (see part 1) However, it has been postulated that these same factors could be utilized to re-balance curvatures if applied in […]
Schroth based Scoliosis Treatment in the Physical Therapy World
On 3/19/15, Jean Masse, PT, DPT, PRC, OCS, ATC, was invited to speak to the UNC Physical Therapy Class of 2017 about scoliosis. Jean gave an eloquent and enlightening presentation to these students, inviting them to explore rehabilitation techniques utilized in Europe for nearly 100 years, but only recognized in the US beginning in 2008. […]
Keep Your Eyes On Those Growing Spines!
Early detection and treatment of abnormal spinal curves during growth can make a tremendous difference in the health of the mature spine. Keep an eye on your growing child’s spine, especially between the ages of 9 and 14 with this simple test: Adams Forward Bending Test: Have your child stand with their feet together and […]
The Tremendous Advantage of Early Detection and Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
While spinal curvature can develop at any time in a person’s life, there is a tremendous window of opportunity to rehabilitate these changes when it is noticed at a young age, before bony maturity is reached. In fact, idiopathic curvatures most frequently develop during growth spurts, before or during puberty. The etiology or the reason […]
Postural Restoration Institute™ Techniques in Children with Musculoskeletal Pain
Pictured left to right, with , Lisa Mangino, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, PRC is Postural Restoration faculty Mike Cantrell, MPT, PRC, Ron Hruska, MPA, PT, founder of Postural Restoration Institute, and James Anderson, MPT, PRC. In December 2014, our pediatric physical therapist, Lisa Mangino, completed the requirements for obtaining the designation of Postural Restoration Institute™ […]
Advance Physical Therapy and Fleet Feet Sports Wraps Up Winter Coat Collection for Area Children
Dear Friends, On October 19th we concluded our winter coat collection drive. Together with Fleet Feet Sports we were able to collect 28 winter coats. All of the donations went to the John Avery Boys and Girls Club of Durham; this organization provides a safe and warm place for kids to learn, grow and have […]
To Crawl or Not to Crawl?
Recently, a few parents have asked me if it’s okay for their child to skip the crawling phase of gross motor development. A quick look at the internet reveals an active debate with some people saying that crawling is quite important, while others don’t think it is critical for gross movement development. Here’s what I […]
“Nu-Schroth” Not “Schroth Method” Says Krista Lehnert-Schroth
At this year’s meeting of SOSORT, the International Society of Scoliosis Orthopaedic Rehabilitation and Treatment, in May, in Wiesbaden, Germany, I had the great honor of meeting Christa Lehnert-Schroth, PT, author of “Three Dimensional Treatment for Scoliosis’, director of the Katharina-Schroth Clinic until 1995 and daughter of Katharina Schroth, the founder of the Schroth Method […]
What are your shoes telling you?
These are the shoes of an active, healthy 13 year old boy. He came to see me at Advance Physical Therapy due to left hip and back pain. His shoes told me that his posture was not centered because of unbalanced muscle use. He told me that his posture was unbalanced because he […]
When to start treatment for scoliosis?
It is generally agreed that scoliosis is diagnosed when a curve of 10 degrees Cobb angle or greater is identified. Curves under 20 – 25 degrees are considered chaotic – that is – whether or not the curve will progress cannot be accurately determined. Once a curve reaches 25 degrees Cobb angle, it is likely […]
Children and Back Pain
Last week there was a story on NPR about young athletes and back pain. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/03/269521744/young-athletes-risk-back-injury-by-playing-too-much-too-soon The story was about children who are spending increased time with one sport, resulting in overuse injuries, particularly back pain. With the added excitement of the Olympics this month, young people are inspired to compete and to perform to […]
“Back Pain Boot Camp”
Recently NPR featured a program on Back Pain Boot Camp and we began to receive phone calls asking if we had such a program. The nature of the “Back Pain Boot Camp” message is one we rely on every day in treating patients with prolonged painful conditions. It is to help people understand their pain, […]
Scoliosis and Schroth Method of exercises:
This is a patient testimonial offered by the parent of a current patient at Advance Physical Therapy: C is a (13 yr old female) who had a scoliosis upper curve of 51 degrees and lower one of 45 degrees in Jan 2013. Two top Ortho surgeons in Raleigh both recommended surgery ASAP. We felt that […]
A Patients Perspective on Managing Her Scoliosis
61 Year Old Female with Scoliosis I have been working with Susan Henning since the autumn of 2010. I am a 61 year old female whose scoliosis was diagnosed at the age of ten during a pediatric check up. I was most fortunate to avoid back surgery since my spinal growth stopped at about twelve […]