Schroth Exercises
This page contains some exemplar exercises based on Schroth method.
For the purpose of illustration, we assume that the patient is female, has a scoliosis with a thoracic convexity towards the right side and a lumbar convexity toward the left side.
Everyone’s curvature is unique. Please seek advice from a therapist specifically trained in managing scoliosis. Do not reproduce these exercises even if you think you have a similar curvature as it may not be optimal for you.
Cat Walk
Cat walk is a specific warm-up and dynamic mobilisation of the spine which prepares the joints and soft tissue for scoliosis specific exercises.
The patient stands and gets ready to walk. She begins by resting her hands about the ribs, in order to monitor the longitudinal stretch of the spine and expansion of the rib cage.
She begins pacing forward, thinking tall, and take deep rhythmic breaths in and out to inflate the rib cage, and to stretch the vertebral column longitudinally and as she walks.
Particular attention should be directed towards restoring ideal curvature of the thoracic spine, namely the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis.
For specific instructions and modifications of the cat walk, please seek the advice of your healthcare provider.
3D Made Easy
There are 4 steps to the 3D Made Easy exercise. The patient maintains the prior component(s) as she stacks on the next component serially:
1. Shift the chest wall horizontally towards the side of thoracic concavity, to the left in this exemplar case;
2. Inhale to expand in the thoracic concavity (left in this case);
3. Roll the shoulder back on the side of rib hump (as if you are squeezing the shoulder blade toward the midline), and
4. Exhale slowly and continue to push laterally toward the thoracic concavity.
Frog at the Pond
Frog at the pond is a dynamic stretch and mobilisation of the spine.
It is used to stretch open a large lumbar concavity and elongate the lumbar spine and the associated musculature, such as quadratus lumborum and psoas.
The patient kneel-sits, placing the pelvis towards the side of lumbar concavity, so that the vertebral column can be best stretched and decompressed in an upward and slightly diagonal manner. The stretch is rhythmic with each breath.
If there is significant lumbopelvic rotation on the sagittal axis on the side of lumbar concavity, the patient may need to adjust the position of the hemi-pelvis to de-rotate the pelvis.
Power Schroth (aka 50X)
The patient faces the exercise rack. The hand on the side of the thoracic concavity is about the shoulder level, and the other hand is held slightly higher. The ideal hand placements are determined depending on the level of scoliotic apex and extent of stretch required.
As the patient breathes out, she shifts her body horizontally to the left and breathes in to the left side of thorax to expand the concavity.
As she breathes out, she pulls on the left hand and pushes on the right hand simultaneously, performing a isometric contraction as if she is rotating her thorax anti-clock-wise on the coronal plane.
Muscle Cylinder (Standing)
The patient rests the foot on the side of thoracic convexity (right foot in this example) on the exercise rack or stool.
The right hand rests on top of the shoulder, and the left hand rests on the waist, about the level of lumbar convexity.
The patient breathes in to the left side of the thorax and shifts her body to the left horizontally to expand the thoracic concavity. Her head is kept perpendicular between two shoulders, while maintaining the longitudinal spinal stretch.
Door Handle Exercise
The patient is sitting perpendicular to the exercise rack, with the side of thoracic concavity (left side) closer to the bars, and the half-pelvis on the side of lumbopelvic concavity off the chair, to facilitate stretching.
The patient breathes in and pulls on the exercise rack to expand the left thoracic concavity. She breathes out slowly and leans laterally towards the exercise rack further while she maintains the stretch of the right hemi-pelvis downward.