Too many people with scoliosis in Utah are never offered the Schroth Method, even though it is a specific, evidence-supported scoliosis treatment. After 11+ years using Schroth at Align Therapy in Lehi and St. George, I still meet patients who say, “I wish I had known about this earlier.” You deserve more than a “wait and see” approach – you deserve clear options and a plan.
The patient who told me, “I wish I had found you five years ago”
Not long ago, I was in the treatment room with a new scoliosis patient.
She was working through one of her first Schroth Method exercises, breathing into the concave side of her ribs, lengthening her spine, learning how to support her curve instead of just living around it.
She paused, looked at me, and said quietly, “I wish I had found you five years ago.”
We sat down and went through her history.
Five years earlier, she had seen a well-known spine surgeon here in Utah.
Her curve was progressing. She was scared. Her mom was scared.
The recommendation?
“Let’s just watch it. Come back in a year.”
No mention of scoliosis-specific exercises.
No mention of the Schroth Method.
No mention that there was a clinic in Lehi that had already been providing Schroth-based scoliosis treatment for years.
Here is the part that still frustrates me: I knew that surgeon at the time. They knew exactly what we did. We had talked about it.
But my patient was never given the option.
Five years later, her curve was worse, her pain was worse, and her anxiety around scoliosis was sky-high.
This is not an isolated story.
What is the Schroth Method, really?
People often hear “Schroth Method” and think it is just another set of stretches or generic physical therapy.
It is not.
The Schroth Method is a specialized, three-dimensional exercise approach created specifically for scoliosis. Instead of treating your back like a straight spine, it respects the unique shape of your curve and works with it.
In simple terms, Schroth focuses on:
- 3D breathing to expand the collapsed, concave side of the ribcage
- Active correction of posture in all three planes, not just “stand up straight”
- Muscle balance and endurance around your curve, creating a “safety net” of support
- Functional integration, so you learn how to sit, stand, walk, and exercise in a more corrected posture
In my clinic, I often describe it this way:
Instead of asking your crooked spine to behave like a straight one, Schroth teaches your body how to stack, support, and stabilize the spine you actually have.
It is not a quick fix. It is a skill you build – but it is a powerful one.
Why “wait and see” is not a treatment
One phrase I hear all the time from new patients is:
“My doctor told me to wait and see.”
Let me be very clear: The wait and see approach is an absence of treatment.
Sometimes monitoring is necessary. Of course, we need to keep an eye on your curve, especially during growth spurts.
But watching a curve get worse without offering any active support is not the same as treating it.
For many adolescents and adults, “wait and see” really means:
- Wait and see if the curve gets bad enough for a brace.
- Wait and see if it progresses enough for surgery.
- Wait and see how much pain you develop.
In other words, do nothing now and react later.
That is the exact opposite of how I believe scoliosis should be managed.
Does Schroth scoliosis treatment actually work?
Another unspoken reason some physicians do not mention the Schroth Method is this fear: “What if it does not work?”
I understand that concern. We all want treatments that are safe and effective.
Here is what we know from the research and from clinical experience:
- Studies on Schroth-based programs have shown improvements in Cobb angle, posture, and trunk rotation for many adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
- Research also reports reduced pain and improved quality of life in both teens and adults using physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) like Schroth.
- International scoliosis guidelines now recommend PSSE as part of conservative management, especially when curves are still flexible.
Is Schroth a guarantee that a curve will never progress?
No. Nothing is.
But it is a far cry from “just wait.”
Done properly, Schroth gives you:
- Tools to actively influence how your spine is loaded every day
- Better awareness of your posture and breathing
- A way to build strength and control around your specific curve pattern
In my 11+ years using the Schroth Method in Utah, I have seen patients:
- Stabilize curves that were previously progressing
- Reduce pain that had become a daily companion
- Improve posture enough that family and friends comment on the change
- Feel more in control of a condition that once felt overwhelming
No miracles, no magic – just consistent, scoliosis-specific work.
Why many physicians in Utah still are not referring to Schroth
This is the hard part to talk about.
We are one of the only clinics in Utah – and as far as I am aware, the only clinic with this level of focus in Lehi and St. George – that specializes in scoliosis treatment using the Schroth Method.
Yet, many patients still never hear about us from their doctor.
Why?
I cannot speak for every physician, but here are patterns I see again and again.
“All physical therapy is the same”
Some providers lump everything under “PT.”
They assume that if a patient has tried generic exercises or traditional physical therapy, they have basically tried “everything.”
But scoliosis-specific therapy is different.
Schroth is not just:
- Core exercises
- General stretching
- Strengthening the back
It is a structured, curve-pattern-based system.
All PT is not the same, just like all surgeons are not the same.
“There is not enough research”
Another misconception is that we need more research before recommending Schroth.
Is there room for more studies? Always.
But we are not operating in a research vacuum anymore. There is now a solid body of work on physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises.
Major international groups have published guidelines that include Schroth-style treatment as part of best-practice conservative care.
At this point, the barrier is less about evidence and more about awareness and training.
Insurance and referral worries
I also suspect some doctors worry about:
- Whether a patient’s insurance will cover a specialized program
- The extra steps it might take to find a scoliosis-focused clinic
So instead of having a longer conversation, they say, “Let’s just watch it.”
But here is the reality:
According to some published estimates, only about 7% of patients with back pain are referred to physical therapy, and the rate is likely even lower for scoliosis.
That means most people are never even given the option of high-quality, conservative care.
Patients deserve better than that.
“Let’s just wait until it is bad enough”
Sometimes, the mindset is still:
- If it gets worse, we will brace.
- If it keeps going, we will consider surgery.
There is rarely a conversation about what can be done between “nothing” and “surgery.”
Again, the wait and see approach is an absence of treatment.
You deserve to know there is a middle path – an active, conservative scoliosis treatment that might help you long before you are talking about operating rooms and hardware.
How Schroth feels different for you
From the patient side, Schroth feels different almost immediately.
Most people tell me:
- “No one has ever explained my curve to me like this.”
- “This is the first time I feel like I know what to do with my scoliosis.”
- “I did not realize how much my breathing and ribs were involved.”
In a typical Schroth-based session at Align Therapy, we will:
- Map out your curve pattern and posture with photos, measurements, and hands-on assessment.
- Teach you specific positions where you can unload and de-rotate your spine.
- Layer in breathing, muscle activation, and alignment cues.
- Gradually integrate those corrections into daily life – how you sit at school or work, lift your kids, exercise, or stand in line at the store.
It is work. It takes focus. But over time, your body starts to remember.
That is when patients begin to say things like, “I caught myself standing in my correction at the grocery store without even thinking about it.”
Questions to ask your doctor about scoliosis treatment options
If you or your child has scoliosis, here are some questions I encourage you to bring to your next appointment:
- “What are all of my conservative treatment options before surgery?”
- “Have you heard of the Schroth Method or other scoliosis-specific exercises?”
- “Is there a scoliosis-focused physical therapist in Utah you recommend?”
- “Besides bracing or surgery, what can I actively do to help my spine?”
If the answer is, “Just wait and see,” you are allowed to ask, “Is there any harm in learning how to move and breathe better around my curve now, instead of later?”
You are not being difficult. You are advocating for your spine.
How we use the Schroth Method at Align Therapy in Lehi and St. George
At Align Therapy, scoliosis is not a side project.
It is a core part of what we do every single day.
We provide scoliosis treatment using the Schroth Method for:
- Children and teens with idiopathic scoliosis
- Adults who have lived with scoliosis for years
- People who have had surgery and still struggle with pain or posture
We combine Schroth-based exercises with:
- Education that empowers you and your family
- Strength and endurance training tailored to your curve
- Long-term planning for spine health and function
If you want to learn more specifically about how we use Schroth, you can visit: https://aligntherapyutah.com/schroth-method/.
Whether you are in Lehi, St. George, or elsewhere in Utah, my goal is the same: help you move with more confidence and feel like you have a say in your scoliosis story.
You deserve options, not “wait and see”
If you take one thing from this article, let it be this:
You should never leave an appointment for scoliosis feeling like your only options are “do nothing” or “have surgery someday.”
There is a wide space in between, and the Schroth Method is one of the most thoughtful, structured ways to fill that gap.
If you, your child, or a loved one has scoliosis, you do not have to wait until the curve gets worse to act.
Next step: Get clear answers about scoliosis
To help you sort through the confusion, we put together a free report that answers some of the most common questions I hear from patients and parents about scoliosis.
It is written in plain language, from years of working face-to-face with people just like you.
If you are ready to learn more and take the next small step:
- Download a free report answering common questions about scoliosis at: https://aligntherapyutah.com/scoliosis-portal/
- Or call us at 801-980-0860 to talk about whether Schroth-based scoliosis treatment might be a fit for you or your child.
You do not have to navigate this alone.
Small, consistent steps can create real change – and we are here to walk that path with you.
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your physician, surgeon, or qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your care.
