Manual (Hands-On) Therapy

Schroth DC believes that Manual Therapy, a broad term encompassing all types of hands-on therapies, is an essential component of scoliosis and kyphosis care.

We take pride in our ability to blend manual therapy and corrective exercise into each patient’s plan of care. Our therapists’ hands are trained to assess myofascial quality, muscle tone and length, and joint mobility, giving us insight into each patient’s symptom generators and pain patterns. From our assessment, we decide on the spot to massage, stretch, dry-needle, cup, and release any tissue restrictions we feel. This leads to less pain, better tissue mobility, improved muscle recruitment, and increased comfort with exercise. 

Equally as important, we teach our patients how to perform these tissue releases themselves at home – this is a powerful component of musculoskeletal care – humans are very capable of “being their own physical therapist” and creating more harmony in their soft tissues. It’s as if, as a species, we’ve forgotten this (or maybe we never knew this in the first place) – we’ve started fully outsourcing our musculoskeletal health to physical therapists, massage therapists, Chiropractors, Rolfers – the list goes on and on.

At Schroth DC, you’ll be introduced to the use of foam rollers, lacrosse and tennis balls, massage sticks, or even your own dexterous hands, to release restricted muscle and fascia – it’s a game changer for symptoms. The key is being strategic about which muscles need releasing and/or stretching – is it the hip flexors, the scapular muscles, the pectorals, the glutes, or even the abdominals? This is where we come in. Our hands have spent years perfecting the art of myofascial assessment. We find deep fulfillment in teaching our patients how to care for their own bodies rather than always relying on a professional. As much as we love working with our patients, we try to “work ourselves out of a job” in this realm.