Content    Home  |  繁體中文  |  English

What Is Scoliosis?

x-ray

Scoliosis is a “S” or “C” curvature on the spine. Scoliosis generally seen in childhood, but it can also come about in adulthood. Scoliosis can arise due to a variety of reasons, including genetics, uneven pelvic position, past spinal or joint surgeries, or even head injuries. When a person with scoliosis is viewed from the front or back, the spine appears to be curved. If the curve is greater than 40 degrees, the body organ (heart, lungs) might be affected by the curvature of spine. Surgery might be necessary if this is the case. If you suspect scoliosis, you should consult your doctor about an appropriate treatment plan.

What cause scoliosis?

In 80% of all case, the cause of scoliosis is not known. This is called idiopathic scoliosis. It develops mostly in children and teens and appears to be related to several things, including genetics, as it often runs in families. Scoliosis is divided into two types: structural and functional scoliosis

Nonstructural (functional) scoliosis

Nonstructural (functional) scoliosis involves a curve in the spine, without rotation, that is reversible and it is caused by a condition such as pain, muscle spasm, or a difference in leg length.

Structural scoliosis

Structural scoliosis involves a curve in the spine, with rotation, that is irreversible and is usually caused by an unknown factor (idiopathic) or a disease or condition such as infection, Marfan's syndrome, or muscular dystrophy.

How is Scoliosis Diagnosed?

We will conduct physical examination for scoliosis, clues include uneven shoulders, uneven waist, or leaning to one side. The diagnosis of scoliosis and the determination of the type of scoliosis are then made by an X-ray to evaluate the magnitude of the curve.

What are the symptoms of Scoliosis?

Scoliosis occurs at a painless condition. Someone with scoliosis may not feel any change in the spine but instead notice that their clothes don't fit quite right or that their posture is not straight. In children, the parent or a teacher often notices an asymmetry. As a result, the shoulders and hips may be uneven, causing one shirtsleeve or pant leg to seem shorter than the other. However, the abnormal curvature and resulting rotation of the spine can result in pain coming from the uneven pressure or tension on associated muscles, joints or ligaments.

Treatments for scoliosis:

We may provide tips on posture of daily activities so your spine is protected. And we will use conservative method such as prescribe exercise for patients (Schroth method), during the treatment period the curvature of the spine will be monitored. The goal of your treatment is to correct the curvature and restore the range of motion of spine as soon as possible.

German Schroth scoliosis therapy

Many parents mistakenly believe that surgery is the only way to improve spine problems. In fact, rehabilitation and exercise therapy are the most common ways to improve the condition in Europe and the United States. The therapy (Schroth Method) is derived from Germany in 1920, and this is the most common method to treat scoliosis in European countries. A well-known orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Hans RudolphWeiss, pointed out that Schroth Method is an effective method of exercise therapy that can reduce scoliosis angle and reduce the need of surgery in future opportunities.

General Principal of German Schroth Therapy

exercise
  • Scoliosis and posture are closely related
  • Muscle tightness or weakness may cause scoliosis
  • Schroth method is a therapy to strengthen weak muscles and to relax tight muscles
  • Schroth therapy aims to improve body posture and the way of breathing
  • The therapy is suitable for both children and adults
  • Treatment can effectively improve the degree of scoliosis, posture, appearance, back pain and other problems

Schroth therapists professional qualifications

All Schroth therapists are required to enroll in Asklepios Katherina Schroth Klink orthopedic rehabilitation centers for formal training and passed the qualification exams in order to become recognized Schroth scoliosis therapist.

(www.schroth-skoliosebehandlung.de)

Scoliosis clinic

The diagnosis of Scoliosis is usually made on the basis of patient’s comprehensive assessment, position of scoliosis, degree of rotation, time and cause of the condition, as well as other personal background information to assist therapists for assigning treatment plan to meet the patients’ needs.

** Assessment method:

meter
  • Postural Analysis: shoulder height and pelvis level
  • Adams Position
  • Length Leg Length Inequality
  • Scoliometer - measure the patient 's spine and back tilt degree rotation
  • X-ray

** Schroth Method

Schroth scoliosis treatment is a cost effective, low risk exercise therapy to treat scoliosis. The treatment can effectively improve the degree of scoliosis , posture , appearance, back pain and other problems, it is widely used by doctors in Europe as a treatment for scoliosis purposes. ProCare Medical group can provide Schroth scoliosis therapy. In the treatment session our therapists will guide the patient different movements with proper breathing method for the spine, and improve problems caused by scoliosis. Our clinic has two treatment rooms for patient to perform this exercise.

room

Other treatment method:

  • Kinesio Taping
  • Chattanooga Group Interferential current
  • Ngan’s Pro machine
  • Chattanooga ultrasounxd

Who is suitable for Schroth scoliosis therapy?

Schroth scoliosis spine treatment method is suitable for people aged over 7-8 or suffering from scoliosis spine disorders. People with any degree (Cobb Angle) of scoliosis, with or without wearing an orthopedic brace, before or after surgery are suitable to receive Schroth treatment.

Schroth scoliosis therapy is only applicable for children or adolescence?

No. According to the medial research, Schroth Scoliosis treatment can also apply to adults and person with disability, which can significantly improve scoliosis condition. However, the best time for scoliosis treatment is during adolescence and childhood period because their joints are in developing stages. If their spine did not get properly treated by that time, the conditions will become more and more severe and this will delay their recovery process.

Can Schroth scoliosis therapy guarantee to heal my scoliosis completely?

> There is no treatment (include surgery, exercise therapy) can 100% guarantee to heal the conditions completely, but if patient performs long-term specific Schroth exercise with breathing techniques, their appearance, spinal curvature and pain level will be improved.

When could I see the result after the therapy session?

The results are depending on the severity, location, and the frequency of treatment. Patient with scoliosis usually perform Schroth exercise 5 to 6 times per week, 30 mins to one hour per session. They could feel and see the result after 1 month of therapy.

Do I require to perform Schroth scoliosis exercise all the time?

Yes, the healing process could be speeded up if we can immerge this exercise into our daily life.

Scroth脊柱側彎治療法的功效顯注,並得到醫學界認同。以下是部分有關Schroth脊柱側彎治療法的醫學文獻及研究報告:

Freidel, K., Petermann, F., Reichel, D., Steiner, A., Warschburger, P., Weiss, H.R. ( 2002). Quality of life in women with IS. Spine 27: E87-E91.

Freidel K., Petermann, F., Reichel. D, Warschburger, P, Weiss, H.R. (1999). Stationare intensivrehabilitation beiskoliose--Medizinischer und Psychosozialer Outcome (in-patient intensive rehabilition in patients with scoliosis-medical and psychosocial outcome). Verlag Zentrum fur Reha-Forschung der Universitat Bremen.

Lehnert-Schroth, C. (1992). Introduction to the three-dimensional scoliosis treatment according to Schroth.

Weiss, H.R. (1988). Vision analitico-funcional el tratamiento tridimensional de la escoliosis segun Schroth 13: 215-223

Weiss, H.R. (1990). Krummungsverlaufe idiopatisher Skoliosen unter dem Einfluss eines krankengymnastischen Rehabilitations programmes. Orthop Praxis 26: 648-654.

Weiss, H.R. (1991). The effect of an exercise program on vital capacity and rib mobility in patients with IS. Spine 16:88-93.

Weiss, H.R. (1991). Vision analitico-funcional el tratamiento tridimensional de la escoliosis segun Schroth. Fisioterapia 13:215-223.

Weiss, H.R. (1992). The progression of idiopathic scoliosis under the influence of a physiotherapy rehabilitation programme. Physiotherapy 78:815-821.

Weiss, H.R. (1992). Particularities of rehabilitative physiotherapy in adults with scoliosis. Rehabilitation 31: 38-42.

Weiss, H.R. (1993). Imbalance of electromyographic activity and physical rehabilitation of patients with IS. European Spine Journal 1: 240-243.

Weiss, H.R. (1993). Scoliosis-related pain in adults--treatment influences. European Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 3: 91-94.

Weiss, H.R. (1994). The adjustment of orthoses in scoliosis treatment. Sonderdruck aus: Orthopeadie Technik Verlag.

Weiss, H.R. (1995). Technical error of vertebral rotation measurements. pp 243-249 in Three Dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities. M D'Amico et al (eds) IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R. (1995). Standard der orthesenversorgung in der skoliosebehandlung. Medizinisch Orthopadische Technik 115: 323-330.

Weiss, H.R. (1995). Preliminary results of specific exercises during in patient scoliosis rehabilitation. pp 385-391 in Three Dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities. M D'Amico et al (eds) IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R. (1995). Initial results of a prospective study of Schroth scoliosis-specific spinal rehabilitation. Zeitschrift Orthopedics 133: 114-117

Weiss, H.R. (1995). Cardiopulmonary performance in patients with severe scoliosis. pp 393-397 in Three dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities. M D'Amico et al (eds), IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R. (1995). Indicence of postural decompensation in a sample of patients with severe scoliosis--influence of a rehabilitation program. pp 313-317 in Three Dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities, M D'Amico et al (eds) IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R. (1995). Scoliotic flatback and specific rehabilitation. pp 399-402 in Three Dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities, M D'Amico et al (eds), IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R. (1995). Technical error of vertebral rotation measurement. pp 243-249 in Three Dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities. M D'Amico et al (eds), IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R. (1997). The given biomechanical individuality of the patient has to be considered in brace construction. pp 465-469 in Research into Spinal Deformities 1. JA Sevastik and KM Diab (eds) IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R. (2001). Letter to the editor. Spine 26: 2058-59.

Weiss, H.R., Bettany, J. The effectiveness of a three-dimensional exercise regime in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. pp 332-339 in International Symposium on 3-D Scoliotic Deformities, J Dansereau (ed) Fisher-Verlag

Weiss, H.R., Bickert, W. (1996). Improvement of the parameters of right-heart stress evidenced by electrocardiographic examinations by the in-patient rehabilitation program according to Schroth in adult patients with scoliosis. Orthopadische Praxis 32: 450-453.

Weiss H.R., Cherdron, J. (1992). The psychical and physical effect of physiotherapeutical rehabilitative inpatient treatment on patients with scoliosis. Orthopadische Praxis 28: 87-90.

Weiss, H.R., Cherdron, J. (1994). The impact of Schroth's rehabilitation programme on the self-concept of patients with scoliosis. Rehabilitation 33: 31-34.

Weiss, H.R., Dallmayer, R., & Stephan, C. (2006). First results of pain treatment in scoliosis patients using a sagittal realignment brace. Stud Health Technol Information 123:582-585.

Weiss, H.R., & Dallmayer, R (2006). Brace treatment of spinal claudication in an adolescent with a grade IV spondylosisthesis-A case report. Stud Health Technol Inform. 123:590-593.

Weiss, H.R., & Dallmayer, R (2006). Brace treatment of spinal claudication in an adult with lumbar scoliosis-A case report. Stud Health Technol Inform. 123:586-589.

Weiss, H.R., & Dallmayer, R (2006). Brace treatment of spinal claudication in an adolescent with a grade IV spondylosisthesis- A case report. Stud Health Technol Inform. 123:590-593.

Weiss, H.R., & Hawes, M.C. (2004). Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, bracing and the Hueter-Volkmann principle. [comment]. Spine Journal: Official Journal of the North American Spine Society. 4(4):484-485; author reply 485-486.

Weiss, H.R., Dieckmann, J., Gerner, H.J. (2000). Outcome of in-patient rehabilitation in patients with m. Scheuermann as evaluated by surface topography. IRSSD Meeting.

Weiss, H.R., El Obeidi, N. (1995). Relationship between vertebral rotation and Cobb angle as measured on standard Xrays, pp 155-159 in Three Dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities. M D'Amico et al (eds) IOS press.

Weiss, H.R., El Obeidi, N., Lohschmidt, K. (1997). The inpatient scoliosis rehabilitation. A 'worst-case' analysis. pp 61-364. Research into Spinal Deformities 1. JA Sevastik and KM Diab (Eds) IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R., Lauf, R. (1995). Impairment of forward flexion--physiological or the precursor of spinal deformity? pp 307-310 in Three Dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities, M D'Amico et al (eds) IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R., Lehnert-Schroth, C. (1995). Breathing excursions in scoliosis patients. pp 285-288 in Three Dimensional Analysis of Spinal Deformities, M D'Amico et al (eds), IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R., Verres, C., & El-Obeidi, N. (1999). Evaluation of the result quality in spinal deformities rehabilitation by objective back shape analysis. Physikalische Medizin 9:41-47.

Weiss, H.R., Verres, C., Lohschmidt, K., & El Obeidi, N. (1998). Pain and scoliosis--is there any relationship? Orthopadische Praxis 34: 602-606.

Weiss, H.R., Verres, C., & Neumann (1998). Scoliosis and psyche: a study on juveniles and young adolescents. Orthopadische Praxis 34: 367-372.

Weiss, H.R., Verres, C., Steffan K, & Heckel I (1999). Outcome measurement of scoliosis rehabilitation by use of surface topography pp 246.

Weiss, H.R., Verres, C., El-Obeidi, N. (1999). Evaluation of the result quality in spinal deformities rehabilitation by objective back shape analysis. Phys Rehab Kur Med 9: 41-47

Weiss, H.R., Verres, C., Steffan K., & Heckel I (1999). Scoliosis and pain--is there any relationship? pp 293-296 in Research into Spinal Deformities, IAF Stokes (ed), IOS Press.

Weiss, H.R. & Weiss, G. (2003). Incidence of curvature progression in patients treated with in-patient scoliosis rehabilitation (Pediatric Rehabilitation)

Weiss, H.R., & Weiss, G. (2002). Curvature progression in patients treated with scoliosis in-patient rehabilitation--a sex and age matched controlled study. Stud Health Technol Inform. 91:352-356.

Weiss, H.R., & Weiss, G.M. (2005). Brace treatment during pubertal growth spurt in girls with idiopathic scoliosis (IS): A prospective trial comparing two different concepts. Pediatric Rehabilitation, 8(3):199-206.

Weiss, H.R., Weiss, G., & Schaar, H.J. (2002). Conservative management in patients with scoliosis--does it reduce the incidence of surgery? Stud Health Technol Inform. 91:342-347.

Free workshop

New patient

Media reports

Contact us