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Schroth Pioneers

Katharina Schroth

Katharina Schroth was born in 1894 in Dresden, Germany, and by the age of 16 was suffering from moderate scoliosis. After undergoing treatment with a steel brace and finding it heavy and cumbersome, she began to develop her own more functional approach, with corrective breathing and over corrective positioning in front of a mirror. By 1921, Schroth’s new method of treatment involving specific postural correction, corrective breathing patterns and postural perception, was being carried out along with rehabilitation exercises in her own clinic. She and her daughter Christa Lehnert-Schroth opened an institute in Bad Sobernheim in West Germany which eventually expanded with a capacity to treat 150 inpatients at a time. The institute became the Asklepios Katharina Schroth Klinik in the 1980s. By the end of the 1930s, Schroth treatment had become widely accepted in Germany as the best form of conservative treatment to treat curvature of the spine.    

Dr. Jacques Chêneau

Dr. Jacques Chêneau was a French orthopaedic surgeon who made significant contributions to the field of scoliosis treatment. Dr. Chêneau's work focused on achieving in-brace correction, aiming not only for stabilisation but also improvement in the alignment of the spine. Since its initial development, Chêneau bracing has been intertwined with the Schroth concept for scoliosis. Dr Chêneau visited Katherina Schroth and Christa Lehnert-Schroth at their renowned clinic in Germany. He immediately understood the efficacy of the Schroth breathing concept and incorporated this into his brace designs using the augmented Lehnert-Schroth curve-pattern classifications, which for decades have been the basis of Schroth scoliosis treatment.  

The Chêneau brace

In 1979, he developed the Chêneau brace. Chêneau brace design acknowledged that scoliosis is a three-dimensional condition and focuses on the correction of the spine in the coronal (front), transverse (rotational) and sagittal (side) planes. The Chêneau brace is recognised for its asymmetry and unique design, allowing for Schroth corrective breathing while the patient wears it. In its design, it uses pressure zones and expansion areas to move the spine into a more normal position. You can see more research papers and publications on Schroth and support for the Chêneau-Gensingen brace on our scoliosis clinical research page.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition where there is an abnormal curvature of the spine. It is a three-dimensional condition with deviation of the vertebrae in the sagittal, coronal and transverse planes.

What does scoliosis look like?

There are visual clues that a parent should be aware of: uneven shoulders one shoulder blade appears more prominent than the other uneven waist or hips a prominence on one side of the back when bending forward See our visual signs and symptoms of scoliosis post for more information.

How does the LOC Scoliosis Brace work?

The LOC Scoliosis Brace is a 3D, hypercorrective, Cheneau-Gensingen derivative brace, known as one of the most corrective and modern scoliosis braces available in the UK. It is designed to:  correct and reduce the Cobb angle of a curve(s)  correct both simple and complex curves  reduce the need for surgery later in life  help with pain management  improve posture  enhance the cosmetic appearance of scoliosis  slow the progression of a curve before spinal surgery (See our Delayed surgery brace)  The brace is entirely unique and tailored to the patient’s spinal curve pattern, ensuring optimal skeletal correction while prioritising comfort.  Unlike traditional braces, it opens from the front for easier self-application and maintains a low profile under clothing.  The LOC Scoliosis Brace is worn 22 hours a day (including nighttime) and works in conjunction with Schroth-based therapy for maximum results. 

What does spinal surgery involve?

The operation used to treat severe scoliosis curves is typically spinal fusion surgery; a major procedure that involves moving muscles and realigning the skeleton into place. The curved, deformed vertebrae are fused together into a single bone, putting metal screws and rods into the spine to help straighten it. Surgery typically lasts between 4 and 8 hours depending on the severity of the curve. Bone graft is then taken from other parts of the body and used to cover the implants.

Locations:

Locations Kingston upon Thames (HQ) Cambridge Bristol Romford    

The LOC Scoliosis Brace

The London Orthotic Consultancy launched its own Cheneau-Gensingen derivative scoliosis brace in January 2022, the LOC Scoliosis Brace. Our brace is based on well-established Schroth-based principles and research. Our brace has been fine-tuned according to feedback from our scoliosis patients and from referring spinal consultants. This is to ensure we are achieving as much skeletal correction as possible in-brace for each individual user, whilst also making our brace as comfortable as possible.