Dr. Hagit Berdishevsky on the Schroth Method, Sports and Fitness for Scoliosis, with Dr. Derek Lee

[@DerekLee]

This interview is for educational purposes and covers information provided by Dr. Hagit Berdishevsky, DPT regarding her opinions on physiotherapy specific scoliosis exercises including the Schroth Method. Her answers and commentary represent her opinion and everyone should consult their physicians and treating team. This video is not an endorsement. See timestamps below to jump to specific topics. 0:00 Introduction 1:19 Scoliosis Journey. 4:25 First exposure to Schroth Therapy. 8:17 Hospital for Special Surgery, NYC (HSS) - Pioneering Schroth Therapy 10:34 Columbia University Medical Center 14:05 General Schroth therapy protocols depend on patient scoliosis indications. 14:31 Age and Schroth. 15:31 Basics of Schroth Method. 16:08 Schroth for infants and juveniles. 16:47 Schroth for adolescents. 17:49 Schroth for adults and the elderly. 18:59 Schroth for young adults. 19:16 Schroth indications with/without surgery. 19:59 Schroth indicates for patients refusing surgery. 22:55 Commitment to Schroth method makes a difference in outcome. 25:14 Bracing compliance is the greatest factor in scoliosis correction/progression. 25:37 Schroth during brace wearing. 26:24 Prehabilitation Schroth assessment. 27:49 Post-operative Schroth assessment. 28:25 Role of pain in the Schroth Method. 29:18 Scoliosis Exercise Protocols. 29:28 Activities of daily living. 29:54 Some movements/exercises are less advisable for scoliosis. 31:08 Different curve types. 31:22 Adult scoliosis and exercise. 32:23 Scoliosis curve progression. 34:15 3D scoliosis exercises - instant correction. 34:28 Incorrect scoliosis exercises. 37:59 Adolescent scoliosis in sports and recreation. 39:03 Sports should be limited for 50+ degree curves in children moving through their growth spurt (progressive scoliosis). 40:01 For adolescent non-progressive scoliosis, the more sports the better. 42:37 No correlation between sports & scoliosis progression (for non-progressive scoliosis). 42:52 SOSORT: Recommendations on sport activities for idiopathic scoliosis during growth. 45:06 In adolescents, why is sports helpful in slowing curve progression? 48:55 Adolescent scoliosis and asymmetrical sports. 50:33 Scoliosis is a scoliosis before it becomes a scoliosis. 52:38 Adult degenerative scoliosis and sports. 57:28 Adult with non-degenerative scoliosis and sports/fitness. 58:05 Fitness when you have scoliosis. 1:02:08 Fitness exercises. Safe or not so safe? 1:04:08 Side planks and scoliosis - how to start? 1:04:48 Controversy of side planks and scoliosis. 1:05:44 Side planks are great for overall body stability. 1:06:38 Side planking for scoliosis. 1:07:24 Scoliosis side planking demo. 1:10:50 Traditional planking and patients with kyphosis or hypokyphosis. 1:13:50 Summary of fitness exercises for scoliosis in adolescents & adults. drdereklee.com

[@strengthandspine]

Hagit - you are an absolute inspiration. I'm so honored to be featured in your presentation here with my weightlifting!! I hope I can inspire others to find the weight training and fitness routine that works well for them and supports their curve!

[@DerekLee]

Beth, I'll pass your comments to Hagit. :)

[@QPoily]

With the ever increasing popularity of strength training in the gym I'd love to see more resources on using the gym as a method for scoliosis rehabilitation. There are many machines and tools available in the gym that can be done unilaterally and safely with lower weights. Thank you for all of these videos. I've only just started viewing them and there's some seriously amazing info in here.

[@DerekLee]

Thanks for the suggestion. :) There are many strength training techniques but with scoliosis, you really need one on one guidance with a PT trained in PSSE. Once you learn the exercises for a particular scoliosis curve pattern, you can do as you like.

[@annettemcqueen231]

Your side plank demonstration changed my thinking and my practice. Thank you!

[@lolitzshelly7229]

Thanks for calling out adults with scoliosis!!

[@DerekLee]

More to come. 🙂

[@wilson7262]

The channel is so valuable for us who suffer from scoliosis. Thank you Dr for putting so much time and effort into this

[@DerekLee]

Happy to help when I can. :)

[@user-ke4sx5kd9c]

Dr.Hagit is a so Energetic teacher & serve the nation as a Best therapist He is sincere is work. I like & follow her.

[@shel.K5489]

Very good information!! Thanks to Dr Hagit! Who Is very knowledgeable person.

[@physioleeza6592]

a great video on scoliosis to practice. thank you!! lookinng forward to see more in future!!

[@QuietStorrm860]

Could you do an interview with Dr. Fishman from the sideplank study? I know he did multiple studies. But i think everyone is curious to see xray results from those studies.

[@DerekLee]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am looking for more scoliosis topics to investigate and interview. 🙂

[@roland6474]

Anyone else feels theese Schroth method specialists and companies are not entirely transparent about exercises and how they affect scoliosis? I'm 29 now, I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 16, and I remember going on these scoliosis treatmnet websites basically saying you can't do anything in regards to physical activity because your spine is this fragile thing and it will immediately get worse and you will need a surgery, while not pointing out that there is a big difference between adult and adolescent scoliosis. Reading all that information really fucked me up mentally and physically because I was scared to do anything.

[@DerekLee]

Unfortunately, many scoliosis treatment websites are disingenuous and are promoting their businesses. It's difficult to separate good from bad.

[@roland6474]

​@@DerekLee Exactly, and they're very effective at doing doing that, because it takes alot of time and reaserch to educate yourself not only on scoliosis but anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics etc. to be able to make decisions and have the understanding regarding physical activity, exercise selection, physiotherapy. I remember, couple of years ago I attended a spine treatment clinic and after evaluation they even lied to me that my scoliosis could be fixed, hoping I would pay a couple of thousand pounds for the treatment. It's abolutely disgusting.

[@monicali2608]

Had this experience with doctors. Found a good chiropractor and do exercises. Don't buy in B's.

[@sandyrausch1999]

I do not have many options, would you trust a year old Schroth program with newbies? Older DJD S curve…..

[@DerekLee]

I'd trust a year old Schroth physiotherapist newbie than a regular physiotherapist who will have no clue. :)

[@Coumei2009]

Can Dr. Hagit Berdishevsky provide the title of the paper regarding sports and less progression of the curve? Thanks.

[@DerekLee]

Dr. Berdishevsky is referencing a soon to be published paper. I will link when it is published.

[@pritamshil5765]

Sir,can physical pain tolerance and mental pain tolerance enhance psychological strength and power?

[@ryanjefferychan]

are you sure her statements regarding side plank is correct for someone with an S curve where right thoracic is curved and left lumbar is curved? convex side in thoracic is the right side and i’ve read many sources that say that this side should be in the air, not on the ground like she is demonstrating

[@DerekLee]

You can perform the side plank as described in the video when the plank technique is perfect without sagging. Technique is important.

[@escapelina]

This is strange what she explained about the planks.. a left sided plank feels very bad on my lumbar curve right away. At the Schroth therapy i was, they also made me do it, just to demonstrate that it isn't right. Maybe it depends on the severity of the curve, or i don't know...

[@hagitberdishevsky6821]

Hi, you can do on both sides and it's for fitness purposes therefore it's recommended to work in a symmetric way.

[@escapelina]

@@hagitberdishevsky6821 Yes, thank you, everyone says that. But a left plank isn't good for me. It feels wrong the moment I do it. I actually did it with a therapist and she agreed, my curves doesn't look good as I do the left side plank (my scoliosis is pretty severe, s-shaped). It depends a lot I guess on the curve pattern.

[@milenalexandraangelov6934]

Hi Hagit, so happy to discover you and Thanks for your demo! However, I can’t help but thinking that this is very confusing -similar to the previous comments re:side planks. I was clearly instructed by my scroth therapist in Los Angeles, that side plank for right thoracic c-shape is and SHOULD ONLY be performed with the left (concave) side towarss the ground and the convex (right) side up in the air with the right hand forming the “teapot” on the right shoulder.. having seen your demo here I asked my current Schroth therapist (now in Europe) and he said the same like the one from LA -that the convex is ALWAYS up in order to open up and stretch the concave, which again is opposite to what you said and demonstrated? I am really curious about your thoughts on that , Best

[@patriciadiaz7255]

Hello. I wish I had known about his method before. My daughter is 12 and she has 90 degrees scoliosis. Doctors say she needs to have a surgery, or we can decide not to have her go through the spinal fusion.. Can you please tell me if we choose to not go with the surgery, would the Scroth Method help her with pain and for the curve to no longer progress? Thank you in advance.

[@DerekLee]

Unfortunately, Schroth on its own cannot correct or stop a 90 degree curve. A 90 degree curve is even beyond bracing effectiveness. But, it may help with pain management.

[@patriciadiaz7255]

@@DerekLee thank you. We have been told that my 12 year old needs a Spinal Fusion surgery . ..1. how do we know if it is better to not go for the surgery. 2 if we choose the surgery...how do we know which procedure is best? The specialist mentioned that each doctor performs it in a different way. Can you please give us your opinion?🙏

[@DerekLee]

@@patriciadiaz7255 I'm not a spine surgeon. I suggest you join my scoliosis Facebook group and post your case. facebook.com/groups/1198200727630801/

[@patriciadiaz7255]

@@DerekLee thank you

[@monicali2608]

Go for a chiropractor first and look for videos about chiropractor work. Surgery is always last option. Add massage and exercises.

[@yakupcakr8660]

🙌🙏🙏👏

[@missybizzarro4846]

Is scoliopilates the same as Schroth method?

[@DerekLee]

No they are totally different.

[@sergiovazquez3240]

Sensacional.