At "Springs-Köln", a Cologne-based therapy center for physiotherapy with three locations, influences from Pilates training and osteopathy are successfully integrated into scoliosis therapy.

Young patients with scoliosis know the feeling of reluctance only too well, and their parents even more so: "Physiotherapy again? Do I have to go there? Can't I play or hang out instead?" Physiotherapist Jessica Weiss, who works at the Springs practice in Cologne as Alexander Bohlander's deputy manager, often finds that boys and girls who come to the practice for the first time don't want to hear about Schroth therapy and other exercises. "Scoliosis puts a lot of emotional strain on children. They have this condition, the name of which sounds funny enough to them: sco-li-o-se. They come here with their x-ray and have exercises in their heads that they have been doing for years in some cases. They are bored and sometimes almost in a state of shock. The mothers tell me that the children have the problem of feeling constricted by their corset, for example."

Springs Cologne, which is both a Pilates studio and a physiotherapy and osteopathy practice, relies on a concept that aims to strengthen patients - both mentally and physically. A central point here is the combination of elements of classic physiotherapy and Schroth therapy with Pilates influences and osteopathy. "Just talking about the spine is not enough when it comes to scoliosis. The causes of these disorders can be manifold, because everything in the body is interconnected," says Alexander Bohlander, physiotherapist and osteopath: "It's not just the skeleton that plays a role, but also the internal organs in some circumstances." If, for example, a lung is blocked as a result of asthma, it may only be able to expand to a limited extent. This can then lead to reduced inhalation and a blockage, which the thoracic spine may have adapted to over time. Organic complaints in the gastrointestinal tract, restricted mobility of the fascia and many other phenomena can also promote the development or worsening of scoliosis. "Osteopathy recognizes three systems: The parietal, which is the musculoskeletal system, the visceral, which refers to the internal organs, and the cranio-sacral, which is the connection between the head, nervous system and sacrum. A detailed osteopathic anamnesis shows that children who come in with scoliosis always have a restriction in at least one of the three systems," says Bohlander. As an osteopath, he sees connections between the condition of the spine and that of the internal organs, so he believes it is ideal for scoliosis therapy if the conventional medical and physiotherapeutic findings are supplemented by osteopathic treatment. If, for example, a blockage can then be released that is due to stuck fascia or something else, this also contributes to an improvement in the situation in addition to further therapy.

His concept of integrating influences from osteopathy into physiotherapy convinced his colleague Jessica Weiss so much that she trained as an osteopath after completing her bachelor's degree in physiotherapy. She wrote her final thesis on osteopathy and scoliosis. "Many studies refer to the connections between scoliosis and other systemic disorders, but scoliosis is not usually considered as a multifactorial event," reports Weiss. Diet, exercise behavior, psyche, pre-existing and concomitant diseases or even previous accidents and birth traumas that were supposedly mild - all these parameters have an influence on the body and can, under certain circumstances, also be related to scoliosis. "The combination of osteopathy and classical scoliosis treatment is too positive an option not to try," says Jessica Weiss.

One of the many special features of osteopathy is its perspective. Osteopathy does not focus on the disease, but on health and the fact that it is constantly in the process of restoring itself. Training and therapy at Springs Cologne are characterized by influences from the Pilates concept and new, innovative elements such as the "Oov". "Do you see how he looks?" asks Jessica Weiss, looking at a youngster who is doing his best to keep his balance on the curved cushion: "The children don't look that focused during Schroth therapy! Schroth is a sophisticated system with good results, but I miss the stabilization component." This is specifically introduced at Springs Cologne using various movement sequences and Pilates equipment, for example Pilates machines. They are equipped with springs that act as a source of strength and thus create a new dynamic.

"Our vision is to offer patients an alternative or supplement to ten years of Schroth therapy," say the physiotherapists. With the combination of physiotherapy, osteopathy and Pilates, scoliosis treatment at Springs takes a completely new approach that is fun to train with and, as it looks at the interrelationships in depth, can offer patients real added value in the long term.

Exercising with the Oov

The "Oov" is a training device developed by an Australian osteopath and neuroscientist. The Oov makes it possible to uncover instabilities and restrictions in the body and helps to find strategies to build stability and achieve movement control. In the broadest sense, it looks like a three-dimensional figure of eight, which is very slender at the top and corresponds to the shape of the spine. Recesses in the shoulder area ensure that the mobility of the shoulder blades is not impaired. The material sinks in slightly when someone lies on it, thereby exerting a subtle pulling effect on the spine. The exerciser then has to lift both arms and one leg into the air, for example - without falling over!

"The brain automatically develops a program to stabilize the supporting leg. The movement automatically sends the impulse to keep the spine central," explains Jessica Weiss. In this way, the body intuitively learns new patterns and movement sequences. Another advantage for scoliosis patients: On the Oov, the diaphragm is positioned slightly upwards, which makes breathing easier.

More about osteopathy

Osteopathy is classified as complementary medicine. It is being consulted more and more frequently for various complaints in order to supplement conventional medical treatments. Some health insurance companies also cover the costs. Osteopathy was founded in the 19th century by the American doctor Andrew Taylor Still (1828 - 1917). In his treatments, Still did not focus on curing an illness, but on strengthening the healthy potential that his patients brought with them. His theory was that the body can heal many processes on its own if blockages do not hinder the free flow within the vessels, tissues and nerve tracts. Against this background, osteopaths consider the following three systems:

• The parietal system: the musculoskeletal system, the bones, joints, vertebrae, ligaments, muscles, fascia and tendons
• The visceral system: blood and lymph vessels as well as the internal organs
• The cranio-sacral system: this includes the nervous system, attachments, skull, spine, sacrum, head and back

If there is a blockage in one of these systems, the body's natural processes in this area cannot take place unhindered. Blockages can be released through manual treatment by trained osteopaths. This provides positive support in conjunction with classic scoliosis therapy.