Pediatric physical therapist, Lisa Mangino was invited to speak at UNC about the importance of early screening for scoliosis. Residents and Fellows in UNC’s Family Medicine Group heard from Lisa, one of Lisa’s conscientious teenage patients, and Dr. Vinay Narotam a UNC Orthopaedic Surgeon with expertise in scoliosis. This trio addressed a group of residents… Continue Reading →
What’s bite got to do with it?
At Advance Physical Therapy, you might hear your physical therapist ask you questions about your dental history. “Do you clench or grind your teeth?” or “Do your back molars touch when you bite down?”. At first, these questions might not seem to relate to your musculoskeletal symptoms of neck, back, or hip pain. However, the… Continue Reading →
Scoliosis Education Opportunity for Clinicians
A 3 Dimensional Approach for the Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis This introductory lecture and lab course is designed to teach the physical therapist assessment and treatment techniques for patients with curvature of the spine. Participants will gain a greater understanding of scoliosis as a 3 dimensional asymmetry with attention given to effects of scoliosis on… Continue Reading →
We’re Hiring PT’s for Adult and Pediatric Spine Care
We are looking for physical therapists with at least 3 years of outpatient experience, manual skills and an interest in knowing more about the Postural Restoration approach. Initiative, Postural Restoration experience and or certification, creativity and a passion for healing are all a plus. We actively support our therapists in the process of Postural Restoration… Continue Reading →
14th International Meeting of Scientific Society of Scoliosis Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Treatment (“SOSORT”)
2019 SOSORT was the 14th international meeting of the Scientific Society of Scoliosis Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Treatment (“SOSORT”). This year’s location was in the heart of San Franciscos’s bustling downtown. Educational courses, research presentations and highlighted speakers were scheduled in rapid succession. Susan Henning, Lisa Mangino and Molly Miller were in attendance, representing Advance Physical Therapy,… Continue Reading →
Scoliosis Resources
Check out our new Scoliosis Resource Page. You will find references and resources for current research, and recommendations for conservative treatment of scoliosis and spine deformity. We hope you find these helpful as you consider your options for management of scoliosis and spine deformity. If you have resources of your own you would like us… Continue Reading →
Treatment of Scoliosis: 2018 International Recommendations
The international community came together this April 2018 to review current best practices and international recommendations for conservative treatment of scoliosis. Dubrovnik, Croatia, a beautiful, ancient city on the Mediterranean coast, was the wonderful site of this year’s SOSORT gathering. SOSORT, the Society of Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment, is dedicated to the aim of… Continue Reading →
Molly Miller, DPT Schroth Certified
We are proud to announce the recent Schroth Certification of Molly Miller, the newest addition to the Advance Physical Therapy team. Molly is now certified in the Schroth-based Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (BSPTS) Method for scoliosis rehabilitation of adolescents. Molly Miller, PT, DPT braved the cold and completed a 10-day intensive course in Wisconsin… Continue Reading →
Scoliosis: 2017 Year in Review
Scoliosis and spinal deformity were easily “key words” for Advance Physical Therapy in 2017. In the past year we have immersed ourselves beyond our specialized patient treatments. We have moved into the realms of writing and teaching about our unique and powerful approach to scoliosis. This summer, our chapter in the international publication: “Innovations in… Continue Reading →
Innovations in Spinal Deformities and Postural Disorders – PUBLISHED!
Innovations in Spinal Deformities and Postural Disorders is now published. For authors: Susan Henning, Lisa Mangino and myself, this was a most welcome notification. Our chapter is titled : “Postural Restoration: A Tri-Planar Asymmetrical Framework for Understanding, Assessing, and Treating Scoliosis and Other Spinal Dysfunctions”. This is the culmination of years of work in developing… Continue Reading →
Got Scoliosis? You’re Not Alone!!
Scoliosis: Girls and boys experience scoliosis at about the same rate, most often during their early teenage years. Girls, however, are far more likely to experience larger spine curvatures requiring, x-rays, therapy, bracing and sometimes surgery. This can add a lot of stress, fear and confusion to an already challenging time of life. Often kids… Continue Reading →
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… Continue Reading →
Spine Fusion Treatment with Postural Restoration
Patients and therapists often feel there is nothing to treat once the spine is fused. They feel it is too late. Patients can feel “stuck” in their fused postures and struggle with bending, turning and walking. Pain may develop in joints that are misused to make up for lost movement after fusion. Patients are often… Continue Reading →
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… Continue Reading →
SCIENTIFIC EXERCISES APPROACH TO SCOLIOSIS (SEAS)
Postural Restoration Institute® (PRI) Method, Schroth Scoliosis Rehab, Inc. and now A Third Method to Conservatively Treat Scoliosis at Advance Physical Therapy Lisa Mangino, pediatric physical therapist from Advance Physical Therapy, traveled to Avanti Therapy in Boulder, Colorado in September to learn about the Scientific Exercises Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) method. The speakers, Michele Romano… Continue Reading →
Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT)
SOSORT is an international scientific research society dedicated to furthering the most effective treatment of scoliosis by conservative methods. This society, made up of MD’s, PT’s and Orthotists meets yearly. SOSORT 2016 took place in May in Banff, Canada. This year’s meeting was specifically organized as a joint meeting with IRSSD (International Research Society of… Continue Reading →
Summer Heat May Reveal Developing Scoliosis
Summertime – green and gorgeous, heat waves that influence us to wear the minimum clothing needed, bathing suits, sports and camps. This is often the first opportunity parents have to notice scoliosis forming in their growing adolescent’s spine. There may be differences in the height of the child’s shoulders. One hip may appear “shifted” out… Continue Reading →
All Scoliosis Braces Are Not The Same. You Be The Judge…
Comparison of the Boston and the Rigo-Cheneau Rigid Scoliosis Braces My colleagues (Susan Henning PT, PRC, Advanced Schroth Certified, Jean Masse PT, PRC Advanced Schroth Certified) and I (Lisa Mangino PT, PRC, Advanced Schroth Certified) at Advance Physical Therapy are seeing the positive effects that a good scoliosis brace can have on the growing spine… Continue Reading →
Treating Scoliosis Conservatively: Getting the Message Out
Last month, our own Lisa Mangino PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, PRC was invited to Fayettville NC to present on “Current Concepts in 3 Dimensional Conservative Management of Scoliosis”. The objectives of the presentation were to help therapists gain an understanding of body imbalances related to scoliosis, to learn about scoliosis measurement tools and x-rays, and… Continue Reading →
What are Curvatures of the Spine?
The human spine is made up of 33 stacked vertebrae. These segments allow small movements in all directions which facilitates balance in the upright position. A normal human spine is not straight. There are small curves at the neck, upper back and low back. If these curves become exaggerated, posture, mobility and stability of the… Continue Reading →
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… Continue Reading →
A Physical Therapist Describes Treatment at Advance Physical Therapy
Tell us about your experience at Advance Physical Therapy (APT) and how your function has improved since beginning physical therapy. My reason for coming to APT was to address a mild scoliosis. While not debilitating or the source of intractable pain, it has contributed to severe muscle tension throughout my shoulders and neck, and it… Continue Reading →
Postural Restoration for Children
At the last Capitol District Physical Therapy Association meeting, my colleague, Lisa Mangino, PT, DPT, PCS, C/NDT, PRC, offered a terrific presentation on how she uses principles of Postural Restoration with children. Lisa reminded participants that the human body is inherently asymmetrical and is biased toward patterns of extension. Sensory awareness of posture, the ground,… Continue Reading →
Scoliosis and Helping Aging Spines Lengthen
Because our scoliosis approach is quite unique, we often have clients come in from out of town and stay for several days of intensive therapy. On a recent “intensive” situation like this, a patient wrote the following description of her experiences and initial outcome: “I’ve tried so many therapies and treatments for my scoliosis and… Continue Reading →
