Schroth DC

09/15/2025

From Collapse to Connection - A Split Jerk Breakthrough with Scoliosis

This strong young woman came into the clinic feeling unstable every time she performed a split jerk with her right leg stepping back.

In the top image, here’s what was happening:
➡️ Her body collapsed into her spinal curve
➡️ She lost alignment and control at end range
➡️ The movement felt shaky, disconnected, and unbalanced

All of which could limit her gains, compromise her safety, and contribute to lower back pain or dysfunction.
Through a focused session that began with a thorough evaluation of her movement pattern, mobility, stability, and nervous system, we combined:
- Scoliosis-specific corrections
- Movement awareness training and patterning
- Dry needling
This created a more stable platform for her body to build from.

In the bottom image, you can see the difference:
✅ Her trunk stays centered and lifted
✅ She feels balanced, stable, and powerful
✅ The movement now feels smooth and connected.
This is the power of integrating scoliosis-informed strategies into strength training where we unlock movement potential while protecting the spine.

📌 Remember:
If a certain movement always feels “off” or unstable, it’s often not just about strength. It’s about alignment, control, and the communication between body and mind.
Sometimes Physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) can achieve this. Other times, you need to draw from your full toolkit and experience to uncover deeper “software issues” in the nervous system that drive these patterns.
Just because you “fix” a pattern once doesn’t mean it won’t come back. This is why a thorough assessment and understanding of how movement and the nervous system integrate with a spine that twists and turns is key.
Once the body finds true connection, strength can finally build on solid ground. 💪

08/27/2025

This is the power of consistency, awareness, and the Schroth Method in action.
On the left: a visible trunk shift, the body working hard to hold itself up against the pull of scoliosis, and a lack of body awareness.
On the right: after dedicated work with scoliosis-specific exercises, notice the changes:

✅ Waist symmetry is improved
✅ Trunk alignment is more balanced
✅ Posture looks more confident and upright

Scoliosis isn’t something we “fix” overnight, but with the right approach, we can absolutely retrain the body to move, stand, and breathe in ways that support the spine instead of fight against it.
Our approach centers on awareness, breathing, and corrective exercises that empower you to take control of your posture and live with greater balance and confidence.
Progress is possible at any age. This isn’t just about appearance. It’s about strength, health, and longevity.

👉 The key isn’t just doing the exercises a few times a week. It’s learning to integrate these principles into your daily life. That’s where true transformation happens.

08/12/2025

Always great to connect with fellow PTs, especially those in the scoliosis world and from different parts of the globe.
I had the pleasure of meeting Katarzyna, a highly experienced physical therapist from Poland, and it was such a rewarding exchange. We shared knowledge, compared approaches, and gained insight from each other’s unique perspectives shaped by practicing in different countries and enriched by our individual experiences.
Encounters like this are a powerful reminder of how much there is to learn, and how exchanging experiences helps us grow, refine our skills, and become better therapists.

�

07/30/2025

When one path is blocked, another opens.
⠀
I didn’t grow up hiking. Honestly, I’m not sure I would’ve even enjoyed it back then. But now, it’s one of my favorite ways to reconnect: with nature, with movement, and with my hiking partner, my wife.
⠀
There’s something about being out on a trail that strips away the usual noise, screens, routines, and expectations. It invites presence, reflection, and creativity. Sometimes a downed tree means rerouting… and sometimes, it invites you to play, to balance, to see things from a new angle.
⠀
That moment reminded me so much of the healing journey, especially for those navigating scoliosis, chronic pain, or any path that isn’t linear.
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Through Schroth work or mindful movement, we learn that progress doesn’t always come from pushing forward. Sometimes, it comes from slowing down, tuning in, and adapting.
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And in those quieter moments of self-reflection, real change begins (deep in the nervous system and the brain) where healing takes root and new patterns can emerge.
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Movement is more than exercise.
It’s healing.
It’s curiosity.
It’s connection.
One mindful step at a time.

07/24/2025

Humbled by the Mat: What BJJ Taught Me About Movement and Presence

I had no experience. No wrestling background. No martial arts training. No clue what I was stepping into or what I was doing. But something about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu drew me in.

What followed was a humbling start full of armbars, hard lessons, and unexpected moments of presence and focus, both on the mat and beyond. From getting crushed (a couple cracked ribs) to getting choked (still happens regularly) to eventually earning my blue belt, this journey reshaped how I understand movement, learning, and what it truly means to show up.

It taught me that presence changes everything—how you move, how you learn, and how your body responds. The act of truly tuning in can shift not just your perception of exercise, but its actual impact on your body and brain.

👉 Read the full post:
https://schrothdc.com/blog/bjj-humbling-start

Tapped out, showed up, leveled up. This is what BJJ taught me about movement, failure, and being fully present.

07/22/2025

Hypermobility & Scoliosis: Managing What Stays, Mastering What Moves

Hypermobility doesn’t go away and for many with scoliosis, it becomes a lifelong companion.
Like scoliosis, hypermobility is a condition to be managed, not feared. And one of the most powerful tools in that process is awareness:
☑️Awareness of when you’re slipping back into old postural patterns�
☑️Awareness of how your joints move too much and where you need to build stability�
☑️Awareness of your body in space. Moment to moment, rep to rep

At our clinic, we see hypermobility in its many forms every single day. From generalized joint hypermobility to more complex presentations like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). It’s a common thread woven through the stories of many of our patients. In fact, most of the individuals we work with are hypermobile to some degree, and we’re deeply familiar with the unique challenges that come with it.
That’s where movement training like Schroth becomes so impactful.�It’s not just about correcting alignment, it’s about creating a foundation of awareness, control, and resilience.
It teaches you:
�✅ How to hold your body differently�
✅ How to strengthen where you need support�
✅ How to move with intention instead of compensation�
✅ How to maintain postural integrity through dynamic movements with and without load

The goal? Not perfection—but presence.
�✨ Presence with your body�
✨ Presence in your environment�
✨ Presence in each breath, each rep, each subtle shift that brings you back into control

07/04/2025

07/03/2025

Seated Curve Correction: Slide to Align
When sitting with a lumbar scoliosis curve, especially one that shifts your pelvis off-center, a small adjustment can make a big difference.

👉 Try this:
Slide the leg on the low side of your pelvis slightly out to the side.
This subtle movement can help rebalance your pelvis, support a more level sitting position, and reduce spinal compression.

This:
✅ Offloads the collapsed side
✅ Promotes more even weight-bearing
✅ Prepares your spine for better alignment and breath control

It’s a simple strategy you can use anywhere: at your desk, dining table, or on the go. This is scoliosis-aware sitting. This is intentional posture. This is breaking the habit of prolonged positions.

Your posture is dynamic. Small shifts create powerful awareness.

07/01/2025

Inside SchrothDC: Strength, Breath & Realignment in Action

This highlight reel offers a glimpse into the diverse, empowering work we do. Blending scoliosis-specific corrections with safe strength training, breath integration, and intentional movement that builds confidence.

You’ll see spines of all shapes, sizes, and ages (including those with fusions, surgical repairs, and complex curves) moving with focus, control, and connection.

✅ Curve-aware corrections under load�
✅ Safe, adaptable lifting strategies�
✅ Breath-driven movement to support expansion and alignment�
✅ A unique blend of scoliosis-specific therapy and strength training�
✅ Real people rewriting their movement story building strength, confidence, and control

This is where corrective movement meets performance. Where postural awareness becomes true strength. And where every spine, no matter the journey, learns to move with greater ease and purpose.
This is core stability.�
This is FOCUS3D.�
This is SchrothDC.
This is what empowered movement looks like.

06/30/2025

Dry Needling with a View 🇺🇸💥
Yes, even on the dock.

Pain doesn’t take holidays, but that doesn’t mean we can’t meet it where we are, with presence, intention, and a little sunshine.

Wherever you are this Fourth of July week, I hope you’re surrounded by good people, good vibes, and a great view.

Here’s to freedom—of movement, of breath, and of living pain-free.
Happy Fourth!