They took pictures of everything and we will end up with a binder full of personalized instructions at the end of the program. They will also take video & send that home with us upon completion of the sessions.The therapist was wonderful - informative, friendly, funny, and thorough. She also happens to be a dancer! This was nice for Dancer Girl, plus the therapist was able to use dance terminology for various body movements and positions as a way to help her learn the best ways for her to sit, stand, move, etc.
It turns out that she has been doing most activities of daily living (ADLs) wrong. Sigh. The way that is most comfortable for her body is typically not what is best for her back. The new ADL techniques will help counteract the curve rather than play into it.The picture isn't Dancer Girl but it is similar to her curve issues and shows what we get - photos with instructions for how to sit, stand, lie down, reach, carry, etc. You can see in the left picture that the girl is leaning with/into her curve as she sits creating an increased lumbar concavity. A simple correction for picture two shows how she has gone against the curve and reduced the lumbar concavity as a result.
We will go back three times a week, two hours at a time, for the next three weeks. I was so proud of how Dancer Girl took everything in, paid attention, demonstrated that she was learning and listening, and didn't get overwhelmed at having to adjust nearly everything she is doing in her daily routines. It has been an amazingly positive experience so far and we are quite certain that we will come away with a variety of useful strategies to help Dancer Girl keep her back curves from getting worse.
Thank you for your posts!! My daughter just started her journey. Please tell me, would you recommend this method? Is it easy to keep up with it on a regular basis?
ReplyDeleteYes, we would recommend this program. We have been very happy with the whole process. Our daughter had a bit of a rough time keeping up the routine over the summer with changing daily schedules but she is back on track. There is a daily living component that we found fairly easy to accommodate into her routine (how to sit, carry a school bag, reach for objects, etc). The daily exercises took time to get set, and we are back in a good place for those after checking in at the clinic again. She doesn't get to them every day but she is now fairly consistent. I would say they take about 20+ minutes each day so you do need to figure out the best time to get them done. Because it is specialized it is expensive and it is likely that your insurance won't pay for much, if any, of it. You do get individualized attention and a specific program for life, but you have to decide if it will be worth the cost. If you are interested and have a clinic nearby you could ask for an initial meeting before any formal assessment happens. Good luck and please feel free to ask more questions if you have them!
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DeleteSchroth scoliosis-specific exercises target the core and trunk, but actually begins at the feet or pelvis. The exercises are used to correct the spine in three-dimensions and include specific set-ups, according to curve pattern, prior to beginning the exercise which will incorporate the rotational breathing. Creator Katharina Schroth developed the technique in Germany more than ninety years ago. Simply stated, the purpose of the Schroth Method is to correct the spine in the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes. This is accomplished through deflexion, de-rotation and elongation of the spine and rib cage. The patient learns to strengthen the musculature surrounding the spine when they are in their newly formed posture. The purpose is to create spinal balance and stability. Consistently working to correct the spine in this manner is a key to successful scoliosis management. Potential benefits for those who learn and practice the Schroth method are :
ReplyDeletehalted or potentially reduced progression (adolescents)
spinal de-rotation
improved lung function
improved chest expansion
improved postural appearance
a more balanced posture
reduction or elimination of pain, if present
an element of empowerment over scoliosis (the value of this cannot be underestimated) and the opportunity for control over what is often presumed to be a condition that is uncontrollable by the patient
Schroth scoliosis singapore