Park Sports PT’s newest Schroth Method Specialist Irina Taranenko
At Park Sports PT, we pride ourselves on recruiting the finest physical therapists. Our team is diverse, certified and compassionate about their patients and their careers. So, we’re excited to introduce Irina Taranenko. Irina’s focus is Scoliosis and she is a certified Schroth Method therapist.
Irina is a long time resident of Brooklyn and is passionate about her city, her community and her career. Sports played a big part of Irina’s childhood. She competed on a high level in numerous individual and team sports. As a result, these experiences gave her a unique awareness of her body and her health.
It was this combination of science and movement that really appealed to Irina as she began thinking about her career. Irina decided to pursue Physical Therapy and received her DPT and Bachelors of Science degree in from Touro College in New York City with a focus on research based patient care.
Struggling with Scoliosis.
Growing up, Irina struggled with scoliosis. Hence, she experienced two major surgeries and the arduous recovery from each surgery. Scoliosis quickly became a subject Irina could closely relate. Her personal experiences helped her understand the emotional challenges scoliosis presents to patients. Because of this Irina decided to obtain her C1 certification through the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (BSPTS) where she became a certified Schroth Therapist.
The Schroth method has recently gained more popularity in the US. As a result, method has built a strong reputation in the industry. It is known as a great way to successfully correct posture and halt curvature of the spine. The Schroth method was not readily available to Irina when she was dealing with her childhood scoliosis. Consequently, helping others with the Schroth Method became very appealing to her.
Irina specializes in the three-dimensional treatment of Scoliosis. The three dimensional approach to scoliosis deals with postural corrections to elongate the trunk and correct imbalances of the spine. The goal is to develop the inner muscles of the rib cage in order to change the shape of the upper trunk and to correct any spinal abnormalities.
Scoliosis affects 6-9 million Americans. The primary age of onset for scoliosis is 10-15 years old, occurring equally male and female. At Park Sports PT, we treat scoliosis using the Scroth Method. This specialized form of treatment has shown to greatly ease pain and improve current and potential quality of health for younger and older patients. Irina is part of our dedicated team of Park Sports Schroth specialists.
Park Sports PT offer patients who have been diagnosed with Scoliosis a highly experienced team focused on the Schroth Method. This specialized form of treatment has shown to greatly ease pain and improve current and potential quality of health for younger and older patients.
We treat a wide variety of patients at Park Sports PT and one case involved an active 67 year old female named Abby. Abby was used to playing tennis three times a week and walking three miles per day. Pain from her scoliosis rendered these activities impossible. As a result, Abby tried conventional physical therapy on two separate occasions, both leaving her in more pain and desperate for a solution. Consequently, these events lead her to seek the Schroth Method from Park Sports PT.
Patient Profile: Abby, 67 Year old Female
Abby met with our Schroth Method specialist Dr. Kristin Romeo. At the time of her evaluation, Abby presented with a L lumbar convexity of 42 degrees. Because of this, she was experiencing sever pain in her lower back, both hips, and pain in her neck region. She was in agony and questioned whether she would ever play tennis or walk more than a few blocks unaided again.
After conducting a thorough examination and reviewing all of Abby’s medical records pertaining to her Scoliosis, Dr. Romeo created a customized program of treatment for Abby. They met two times a week for eight weeks. After these eight weeks, Abby started to feel better. For example, she began to walk lengthy distances, first one mile, then two miles, pain free. Dr. Romeo focused on postural changes, specific breathing techniques based upon Abby’s posture and altered the way Abby sat and performed routine physical activities. By meticulously strengthening soft tissue, Abby was able to redefine and re-strengthen her posture.
As of this article, Abby is planning a tennis weekend and is confident she will be pain free.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Scoliosis, the Schroth Method might be a perfect solution for less pain and better future health. For more information on the Schroth Method, Park Sports PT, and a consultation, please visit us here.
The Schroth Method for scoliosis utilizes a three dimensional approach to elongate the trunk and correct imbalances of the spine. The goal is to develop the inner muscles of the rib cage in order to change the shape of the upper trunk and to correct any spinal abnormalities.
Developed by Katharina Schroth
The Schroth Method was originally developed by Katharina Schroth in Germany. The method uses customized exercises to return the body’s posture to a more natural position. It is standard treatment for scoliosis in many European countries, and is gaining trust and popularity in the United States.
Scoliosis Symptoms
Symptoms of Scoliosis vary. Pain does not always accompany scoliosis. As a result, scoliosis can present in a variety ways such as abnormal trunk lean, uneven rib cage/shoulders or even back pain. If you suspect scoliosis contact your primary care provider. Prior to Schroth treatment, an x-ray is needed as scoliosis can present differently externally due to overlying musculature and does not give us the full picture. So, knowing the bony anatomy allows us to monitor your progress and tailor your treatment to your specific curvature.
Treatment at Park Sports PT
Getting treatment at Park Sports PT means you are working with certified therapists trained in the Schroth Method. They are partners in your health and wellness. Your therapist will create a personalized plan just for you and your specific condition. Our treatment approach can treat scoliosis patients of all ages. It can also can be utilized to treat in all stages of scoliosis, including after surgery.
Throughout treatment, we look closely at the three-dimensional curve in the spine. We teach patients very specific ways to correct that curve or scoliosis posture. Once patients have recognized their corrected posture, we teach them breathing and muscle activation techniques to hold that correction. Essentially, we help train the motor neurons to sense when they’re in a corrected posture versus when they’re in their scoliosis posture.
The Schroth Method takes a lot of repetition and commitment from the patient to learn these techniques. That’s why home exercises are also recommend at least five days a week for a half hour each time.
Trial results show improved patient outcomes
Several trials have found that physical therapy scoliosis-specific exercises lead to improved patient outcomes. This includes less pain and improved muscular strength, muscular endurance and self-image. In one study, spinal deformity improved in 69 percent of patients who completed Schroth exercises. This compared to only 6 percent in patients who did not complete their exercises. The Schroth Method at Park Sports PT works.
Your Park Sports PT team will create a personalized plan and will help prepare you to work on your strength and posture at home. The result is long term care and a stronger and healthier body.
Contact Us
If you or your child has any symptoms or have visited your primary care provider and are looking for treatment, contact us today to learn more. We are here to help.
The Effectiveness of Spinal Stabilization Exercises for Back & Neck Pain
There is no standard approach treating chronic lower back and neck pain. Although this may be unfortunate for many patients to hear, the good news is that there are many conservative methods to alleviate pain.
While conditions like degenerative disk disease, spondylolesthesis, lumbar and cervical radiculopathy are rarely cured completely by conservative measures alone, physical therapy does offer a fair amount of pain relief in the long run.
By utilizing spine stabilization exercises, our physical therapists are able to help patients reduce back and neck pain. This is an active form of treatment requiring the patient to perform exercises to strengthen the muscles and improve the stability of the spine.
Patients suffering from chronic spinal pain should be leery of physical therapists who mainly offer passive modalities. Examples of passive modalities include heat, electrical stimulation, and massage. Patients should be aware that passive therapeutic modalities do not have sufficient evidence to support their use in chronic spinal conditions.
Spinal stabilization exercises offer the empowerment of the patient and have plenty of research and evidence to support their effectiveness.
Pilates offers an excellent variety of spine stabilization exercise.
Extensive benefits in treating the spine of those who suffer from lower back pain have been discussed extensively in medical literature. Physical Therapists specializing in the spinal disorders are trained in recognizing the factors that affect spinal stability.
Components Affecting Spinal Stability
The concept of spinal stability is relatively new with research beginning during the 1970’s.
There are three components that affect spinal stability.
The first component is the passive spinal element: the bone and ligamentous structures. Studies of the cadaver spine in which the bones and ligaments are intact but the muscles were removed showed to buckle under about 20 pounds.
Ligaments of the thoracic spine: posterior (a), anterior (b), lateral (c) and posterior with vertebral arch removed (d). 1, anterior longitudinal ligament; 2, posterior longitudinal ligament; 3, intervertebral disc; 4, ligamentum flavum; 5, intertransverse ligament; 6, supra- and interspinal ligament; 7, radiate ligament; 8, costotransverse ligament. Originally sourced from: https://musculoskeletalkey.com/anatomy-of-the-thorax-and-abdomen/
The second component of spinal stability are the muscles that surround the spine. The muscular component provides a necessary ‘stiffening” of the spinal segment. In a healthy spine, a very modest level of muscular activity can create a sufficiently stable joint. In a degenerative disk disease, for example, there is more demand on the surrounding musculature. More strength and endurance reserve is needed to overcome an injury and pain.
The third component of spinal stability are the neural elements: the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. They are akin to an orchestra conductor, coordinating the performance of various muscles, making sure they are firing at the right time, at the right amount of force.
Multiple studies have shown patients with lower back pain make a “repositioning error” in which their spine would resume to its original position causing pain after performing a certain movement more than patients with a healthy, stabilized spine.
In physical therapy language, we call it a poor postural control.
Specific physical therapy exercises and treatment has shown effectiveness in treating chronic spinal pain.
Lumbar stabilization exercises improve muscular function which can, in turn, compensate for the structural damage to the spinal segment. A thorough dynamic assessment of the spine helps identify postural deficits.
A thoughtful exercise program is designed for each individual by the physical therapist based on their initial testing and evaluation. The most tangible benefit of a lumbar stabilization is that it gives a patient the tools to control their pain.
Interventional Pain Management
Going beyond the scope of physical therapy, interventional pain management is another passive option for chronic spinal pain. This approach serves as a temporary source of relief for patients dealing with low or medium levels of lower back pain. These techniques include performing procedures directly at the level of your dysfunction.
A pain management physician gains access to the areas causing lower back or neck pain by penetrating the surface of the skin. There is a plethora of interventional pain management options for the diagnosis and treatment of the spinal pain.
Epidural steroids are the most common example of the interventional spine management. However, the accuracy and effectiveness of interventional methods in managing lower back pain are not always clear.
In the comprehensive review article published in Pain Physician, 2013 Apr:16, the authors conducted a systematic review of literature in order to collect evidence for the effectiveness of various interventional pain management techniques in the treatment of chronic spinal pain.
The author came to the conclusion that the evidence was fair to good in 52% of therapeutic interventions. The evidence for diagnostic value fared slightly better at 62%.
One significant drawback of all passive techniques is that they do not require a participation of the patient. Without an active engagement of the patient, there is a limited self-control and independence in managing their own condition.
Do you suffer from chronic neck or back pain? Our therapists can help. Schedule your appointment today.
Scoliosis is a three-dimensional abnormal curvature of the spine. Everyone’s spine has a natural curvature to it, however, if that curvature progresses beyond a certain degree it can be classified as scoliosis. Scoliosis occurs equally among genders but girls seem to be more likely to have scoliosis that has progressed to a level that requires treatment. There are an array of health issues that can accompany scoliosis such as abnormal breathing patterns, visible prominences and poor posture due to muscular imbalances.
What causes Scoliosis?
X-ray image of a person with Scoliosis. Original Image Source: https://www.orthobullets.com/spine/2053/adolescent-idiopathic-scoliosis
There are several different types of scoliosis, however, the majority of scoliosis cases are idiopathic, meaning it has an unknown origin. Idiopathic scoliosis typically begins at a young age and becomes more pronounced during periods of rapid growth.
What are the symptoms of scoliosis?
Pain does not always accompany scoliosis. Scoliosis can present in a variety ways such as abnormal trunk lean, uneven rib cage/shoulders or even back pain. If you suspect scoliosis contact your primary care provider to address your concerns. Prior to Schroth treatment, an x-ray is needed as scoliosis can present differently externally due to overlying musculature and does not give us the full picture. Knowing the bony anatomy allows us to monitor your progress and tailor your treatment to your specific curvature.
What is the Schroth Method?
The Schroth Method is a conservative form of scoliosis treatment designed to target the flexible, postural component of scoliosis. The method was created in Germany in the 1920’s by Katharina Schroth as a way to treat her own scoliosis. Since then the method has made its way across the globe, only recently in the US. Scoliosis specific exercises are targeted specifically to each patient’s curvature through the use of five principles of correction. Subtle postural corrections, spinal distraction and isometric tension help to increase muscle activation and strength in a neutral spinal alignment.
What can I expect during a session of Schroth method physical therapy?
On your first visit, you will be fully evaluated. We will take a look at your posture, your muscular imbalances, address any goals or concerns you may have and take a variety of measurements. You will be sent home the first day with the beginnings of a home exercise program. During your follow-up treatment sessions, we will be utilizing a variety of equipment such as a Schroth wall ladder, physioball, rice bags and Therabands. You will learn about the five principles of correction (1. Auto-elongation (detorsion); 2. Deflection; 3. Derotation; 4. Rotational breathing; and 5. Stabilization) and how to implement them into your home exercise program. We will discuss safe ways to lift, sit and postural corrections to integrate into your daily routine.
Do you or your child suffer from Scoliosis or Kyphosis? We can help. Schedule your evaluation today.
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