OUR STUDENTS, THEIR REFERRING PHYSICIANS AND PATIENTS TELL OUR STORY BEST.
Students
"Beth was an excellent instructor. She made the information very obtainable. She was encouraging, reasonable, adaptable. She faciltated a great learning environment." - L1 course attendee
"My most significant revelation of the L1 course was..."Being able to understand and envision the 3D nature of scoliosis simultaneously. During previous review of scoliosis, I could define this concept and envision each plane individually, but now I feel able to understand all 3 occurring at the same time and apply that to what I am seeing with the patient."
- L1 course attendee
- L1 course attendee
"The Rigo Concept as taught through BSPTS has helped me to better understand the complex phenomenon of scoliosis. It taught me how to work with specific exercises and techniques to empower patients with tools to minimize curve progression, feel less pain and build postural strength and awareness. The work emphasizes the importance of working as a team with patients parents, doctors, and orthotists to achieve the best outcomes and the highest quality of care. I have seen a definite reduction in pain with most patients, children and adults, and improved postural alignment. Amy Sbihli, my L1 and L2 instructor, demonstrated expertise, enthusiasm, and compassion for all of her students fostering the best atmosphere for learning and growth. I am grateful for all the dedication of the BSPTS staff to be ever innovative in creating the best methods for success with scoliosis patients." - Samana Lake, PT, Dip MDT, CYT, Callan-Harris PT USA, Rochester, NY
"Rigo Concept-BSPTS provides its students with a unique set of skills and knowledge that spans far wider than just clinical skills. These courses have provided me with a much deeper understanding of scoliosis and about the strides that different professions have taken over the years to progress the management of the condition. These courses have trained me to interact in more effective ways with other physical therapists, orthotists, and orthopedic surgeons involved in scoliosis care and has made me a more well-rounded practitioner in my understanding of the psychological impact of the condition. The case studies that were required to be completed along with the Rigo Concept BSPTS between L1 and L2 courses were extremely beneficial in enhancing my practice. These evaluations forced me to analyze my clinical skills and think critically about unique patient cases. Overall, L2 has positively impacted my clinical outcomes by improving my ability to combine my general physical therapy knowledge with a deep understanding and skill set specific to scoliosis care that focuses on not just the curve, but the entire patient." - Rosemary Carvajal, PT, DPT, Monmouth Schroth Scoliosis PT, Freehold, NJ
"Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) is very grateful for the teaching and education provided by the clinicians and educators of the BSPTS Schroth Based Method. These educators have brought this method to Texas Children’s as a conservative approach to treating scoliosis and kyphosis. Because of their education and instruction, the TCH system now has a total of 16 certified therapists that can now serve the community using this non-surgical treatment approach. The chief of orthopedics at TCH offers the BSPTS Schroth Based Method to all appropriate patients that he sees in his clinic because of the positive results he has seen in his patients. Families and patients are grateful that there is a conservative option in the Houston area for treating scoliosis. Overall bringing this knowledge and method of treatment to our facility has been a true blessing for patients in our community." - Sandra Engle, PT, DPT, C1 &C2 Certified, Texas Children's Hospital
"This was one of the best continuing education classes I have ever taken.” - Course Attendee
"We have hosted BSPTS-North America at our practice, Scoliosis Specialty Center. I was provided with all the necessary information with ample time for me to prepare for hosting the classes. We were given all the specific requirements to obtain CEU approvals in the state of NJ. Amy was very flexible in the class structure and was able to strike a balance between course content and least impact on our day to day functioning of our practice and current patients. For one of the classes, Amy drove with one of her portable wall bars so we wouldn’t have to cancel any patients, which was definitely above and beyond what I was expecting. I am hosting BSPTS-North America again for a C2 class and this time, Amy also connected me with the BSPTS-North America web manager to ensure all the registration paperwork was accurate and posted in a timely manner. PTs who have attended the course at our site have always had high remarks and feedback for the course content and delivery of the important information to help them provide the highest quality of care to their patients. As a PT, a practice owner with ten certified therapists, and clinic providing scoliosis specific exercises for almost a decade, we have always utilized the courses provided by the BSPTS-North America team and they continue to provide the highest quality of education. We highly recommend BSPTS-North America to provide the most current and thorough education for scoliosis specific exercise/ Schroth." - Chintan A. Pancholi-Parekh, PT, DPT, Director, Physical Therapy, PRNY, PC-Scoliosis Specialty Center
"Prior to discovering the Schroth method, I was using a combination of manual treatments and Pilates-based rehabilitation to treat patients with scoliosis. Through research, I learned about a physical therapy method solely devoted to the treatment of spinal deformities offered by the Barcelona Scoliosis Physiotherapy School, and I became determined to pursue this certification in 2011. Ever since that moment, my career has been transformed. I have immensely enjoyed entering the Schroth world. Attending the challenging courses, interacting with fellow therapists, meeting a variety of patients, and learning from experienced and dedicated instructors has resulted in a rewarding and exciting journey. Obtaining advanced C2 certification further helped me become a more confident and inspiring Schroth therapist. Under Beth Janssen and Patti Orthwein's teachings I believe I received invaluable instruction. The combination of their expertise and knowledge with their compassion towards their patients created a very favorable and fruitful place for learning the method at Scoliosis Rehab. I am thankful for the gift of Schroth by the BSPTS-North America, which has finally allowed me through my private practice to offer a viable non-surgical treatment for spinal deformities in the Miami region." - Beatriz Rodriguez, PT
"It is a rare and wonderful experience to be a part of a revolution. Beth and Patti have brought to families, patients and the entire profession of physical therapy in the US, a new avenue of care and hope. Together with BSPTS, they have laid the foundation of the highest quality of treatment and education for patients with scoliosis. It is inspiring to see the years of dedication to training physical therapists. PRNJ will forever be in debt to both Beth and Patti for their inspiration and mentorship. Thank you seems too small for the size of the impact they have made." - Marissa Muccio, PT
"This was one of the best continuing education classes I have ever taken.” - Course Attendee
"We have hosted BSPTS-North America at our practice, Scoliosis Specialty Center. I was provided with all the necessary information with ample time for me to prepare for hosting the classes. We were given all the specific requirements to obtain CEU approvals in the state of NJ. Amy was very flexible in the class structure and was able to strike a balance between course content and least impact on our day to day functioning of our practice and current patients. For one of the classes, Amy drove with one of her portable wall bars so we wouldn’t have to cancel any patients, which was definitely above and beyond what I was expecting. I am hosting BSPTS-North America again for a C2 class and this time, Amy also connected me with the BSPTS-North America web manager to ensure all the registration paperwork was accurate and posted in a timely manner. PTs who have attended the course at our site have always had high remarks and feedback for the course content and delivery of the important information to help them provide the highest quality of care to their patients. As a PT, a practice owner with ten certified therapists, and clinic providing scoliosis specific exercises for almost a decade, we have always utilized the courses provided by the BSPTS-North America team and they continue to provide the highest quality of education. We highly recommend BSPTS-North America to provide the most current and thorough education for scoliosis specific exercise/ Schroth." - Chintan A. Pancholi-Parekh, PT, DPT, Director, Physical Therapy, PRNY, PC-Scoliosis Specialty Center
"Prior to discovering the Schroth method, I was using a combination of manual treatments and Pilates-based rehabilitation to treat patients with scoliosis. Through research, I learned about a physical therapy method solely devoted to the treatment of spinal deformities offered by the Barcelona Scoliosis Physiotherapy School, and I became determined to pursue this certification in 2011. Ever since that moment, my career has been transformed. I have immensely enjoyed entering the Schroth world. Attending the challenging courses, interacting with fellow therapists, meeting a variety of patients, and learning from experienced and dedicated instructors has resulted in a rewarding and exciting journey. Obtaining advanced C2 certification further helped me become a more confident and inspiring Schroth therapist. Under Beth Janssen and Patti Orthwein's teachings I believe I received invaluable instruction. The combination of their expertise and knowledge with their compassion towards their patients created a very favorable and fruitful place for learning the method at Scoliosis Rehab. I am thankful for the gift of Schroth by the BSPTS-North America, which has finally allowed me through my private practice to offer a viable non-surgical treatment for spinal deformities in the Miami region." - Beatriz Rodriguez, PT
"It is a rare and wonderful experience to be a part of a revolution. Beth and Patti have brought to families, patients and the entire profession of physical therapy in the US, a new avenue of care and hope. Together with BSPTS, they have laid the foundation of the highest quality of treatment and education for patients with scoliosis. It is inspiring to see the years of dedication to training physical therapists. PRNJ will forever be in debt to both Beth and Patti for their inspiration and mentorship. Thank you seems too small for the size of the impact they have made." - Marissa Muccio, PT
Referring Physicians & Directors
"We were fortunate to host BSPTS Level 1 at our clinic in Philadelphia. Cindy was truly a pleasure to work with, She was organized, thoughtful, responsive, and is an excellent communicator, We were able to coordinate a course schedule with minimal clinic interruption and this allowed our clinicians maximal time for integration in their clinical practice. Cindy is warm, professional, and truly a clinical expert, It is clear how she has dedicated her professional life to helping patients and is an extraordinary teacher who can meet you where you are. This course has revolutionized our practice. I could not be happier with the outcome and what we are now able to provide for our patients." - Adam Kessel PT, DPT, partner Cloudline Physical Therapy
"Ivy Rehab is committed to providing access to high-quality and innovative post-professional education. We strive to partner with industry leading education providers and that is why we chose the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School to certify our therapists in the evidence-based Rigo Concept. We worked directly with Amy Sbihli, MPT, DPT who was a rockstar instructor! Planning the course does take commitment and effort but the process was made much easier because of our direct partnership with Amy. Once the course was complete and we saw the incredible feedback from our clinicians, we started planning our next course. We are now going to reach a new population of patients and be able to provide them with exceptional care. Thank you BSPTS!" - Kara Halsey PT, DPT, Director of Clinical Education, Ivy Rehab
“Starting a scoliosis treatment program is a big commitment with the initial training being a large investment for a clinic. After a lot of debate, we chose to host the (BSPTS) L1 training at our facility - and it was such a rich experience! Using this model, we were able to get double the staff trained at the same or less cost with less stress on our staff. Also the unofficial benefits of having Cindy (Marti) on site to see our equipment, space and the casual conversations we had about referral systems was unexpectedly valuable. Cindy made the process easy with clear steps, equipment lists, timelines and support for completeing the course set up and hosting. It was such a great experience that we are making plans for hosting another L1 or L2 course in 2023." - Carrie Van Quathem MS, PT, CBIS-T, Director of Pediatric Rehabilitation, ChildServe
"Having professional Schroth-trained therapists available to our nonoperative, preoperative and postoperative spinal deformity patients at the Och Spine Hospital has proven to be extremely beneficial. Their ability to provide this unique and respected therapy has improved our patients' understanding of their spinal deformity, and provided a means to optimize their spinal alignment, truncal posture and core muscle strength which undoubtedly has improved their outcomes. We are proud to have this specialized area of expertise available to our patients.” - Lawrence G. Lenke, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief, The Daniel and Jane Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian/Allen, Chief of Spinal Surgery, Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery
"This (C1) class will give us referral partners for our patients to go to which we are lacking right now. Catching scoliosis early, treating them early and not letting anyone fall through the cracks is imperative for excellent patient care. Having additional Schroth providers in our community can help get the word out to primary care providers that early detection is key to giving a patient choices. Thank you Amy (Sbihli) for all your hard work making this an interesting, informative and exciting (C1) class for our students." - Wendy Welker, Director of Education and Research, Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery, NC
"Having BSPTS-trained physical therapists in our community has ushered in a new era of spine care. Patients consistently praise the expertise and insight that our Schroth-trained therapists, Ashley and Noelle, bring to their care. My spine section has been very keen to partner with our local group of Schroth therapists for a large population of adolescent patients eager to have expert conservative spine care."- Nigel Price, MD Chief, Section of Spine Surgery
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics UMKC
"I feel very fortunate to have such a range of expertise in our Center for Conservative Care for Scoliosis. Working with such a passionate and skilled group of physical therapists has taught me so much about the complexities in nonoperative treatment of children with scoliosis. Our weekly meetings are a think tank where we explore issues ranging from best in class, "smart-braces" which respect 3 dimensional anatomy, to ways to foster patients' compliance with scoliosis specific physical therapy. This collaboration has resulted in a robust research program, including efforts to develop a best practice guideline for conservative care of adolescent scoliosis. This is really how multidisciplinary, family centric care should be." - Michael Vitale, MD MPH, Director, Center for Conservative Care for Scoliosis, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center
"The ability to offer Schroth physical therapy for our patients with AIS through our BSPTS-trained therapists has been a true paradigm shift in our non-operative scoliosis management. The era of watching and waiting, or even bracing and waiting, has passed, with the patient able to assume a more active role in their care. The patients feel empowered, and their acceptance of this modality has been overwhelmingly positive." - Craig P. Eberson, MD, Chief, Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis Service, Brown University, Warren Alpert School of Medicine
"Ivy Rehab is committed to providing access to high-quality and innovative post-professional education. We strive to partner with industry leading education providers and that is why we chose the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School to certify our therapists in the evidence-based Rigo Concept. We worked directly with Amy Sbihli, MPT, DPT who was a rockstar instructor! Planning the course does take commitment and effort but the process was made much easier because of our direct partnership with Amy. Once the course was complete and we saw the incredible feedback from our clinicians, we started planning our next course. We are now going to reach a new population of patients and be able to provide them with exceptional care. Thank you BSPTS!" - Kara Halsey PT, DPT, Director of Clinical Education, Ivy Rehab
“Starting a scoliosis treatment program is a big commitment with the initial training being a large investment for a clinic. After a lot of debate, we chose to host the (BSPTS) L1 training at our facility - and it was such a rich experience! Using this model, we were able to get double the staff trained at the same or less cost with less stress on our staff. Also the unofficial benefits of having Cindy (Marti) on site to see our equipment, space and the casual conversations we had about referral systems was unexpectedly valuable. Cindy made the process easy with clear steps, equipment lists, timelines and support for completeing the course set up and hosting. It was such a great experience that we are making plans for hosting another L1 or L2 course in 2023." - Carrie Van Quathem MS, PT, CBIS-T, Director of Pediatric Rehabilitation, ChildServe
"Having professional Schroth-trained therapists available to our nonoperative, preoperative and postoperative spinal deformity patients at the Och Spine Hospital has proven to be extremely beneficial. Their ability to provide this unique and respected therapy has improved our patients' understanding of their spinal deformity, and provided a means to optimize their spinal alignment, truncal posture and core muscle strength which undoubtedly has improved their outcomes. We are proud to have this specialized area of expertise available to our patients.” - Lawrence G. Lenke, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief, The Daniel and Jane Och Spine Hospital at New York-Presbyterian/Allen, Chief of Spinal Surgery, Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery
"This (C1) class will give us referral partners for our patients to go to which we are lacking right now. Catching scoliosis early, treating them early and not letting anyone fall through the cracks is imperative for excellent patient care. Having additional Schroth providers in our community can help get the word out to primary care providers that early detection is key to giving a patient choices. Thank you Amy (Sbihli) for all your hard work making this an interesting, informative and exciting (C1) class for our students." - Wendy Welker, Director of Education and Research, Hey Clinic for Scoliosis and Spine Surgery, NC
"Having BSPTS-trained physical therapists in our community has ushered in a new era of spine care. Patients consistently praise the expertise and insight that our Schroth-trained therapists, Ashley and Noelle, bring to their care. My spine section has been very keen to partner with our local group of Schroth therapists for a large population of adolescent patients eager to have expert conservative spine care."- Nigel Price, MD Chief, Section of Spine Surgery
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics UMKC
"I feel very fortunate to have such a range of expertise in our Center for Conservative Care for Scoliosis. Working with such a passionate and skilled group of physical therapists has taught me so much about the complexities in nonoperative treatment of children with scoliosis. Our weekly meetings are a think tank where we explore issues ranging from best in class, "smart-braces" which respect 3 dimensional anatomy, to ways to foster patients' compliance with scoliosis specific physical therapy. This collaboration has resulted in a robust research program, including efforts to develop a best practice guideline for conservative care of adolescent scoliosis. This is really how multidisciplinary, family centric care should be." - Michael Vitale, MD MPH, Director, Center for Conservative Care for Scoliosis, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center
"The ability to offer Schroth physical therapy for our patients with AIS through our BSPTS-trained therapists has been a true paradigm shift in our non-operative scoliosis management. The era of watching and waiting, or even bracing and waiting, has passed, with the patient able to assume a more active role in their care. The patients feel empowered, and their acceptance of this modality has been overwhelmingly positive." - Craig P. Eberson, MD, Chief, Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis Service, Brown University, Warren Alpert School of Medicine
Patients/Parents
I would like to thank all of the physical therapists who are learning to become Schroth-Trained. There is a need for more Schroth-Trained Therapists in our area. Once people learn of this alternative to surgery, many travel great distances, even out of state to find a trained therapist. I am thankful for those who want to become Schroth trained so that patients can access the care they need with ease. I applaud the efforts to bring awareness of the benefits of Schroth and the commitment to sharing knowledge and experience with others. Because of SES efforts, there are a growing number of patients and providers embracing the Schroth Method. However, more families need to know that this treatment option is available. Once a diagnosis of scoliosis is made, it should be considered a first line of treatment, not something patients learn about on their own when faced with the threat of surgery. A team approach to scoliosis that includes the doctor, physical therapist and patient is needed. Patients want alternatives to surgery. The Schroth Method gives families hope and empowers them to be proactive in the treatment of scoliosis. Thank you to the (SES Instructors) and the Schroth-trained therapists for your commitment to caring for patients with scoliosis." - Parent of Child with Scoliosis
"(The class) provided a warm and welcoming hands-on environment where physical therapists and patients could learn together under close supervision. As we are fairly new to the Schroth Method, we found that the sessions helped us enormously to understand it better. In addition, my daughter was able to meet other girls with scoliosis and share their stories. It was nice to see the girls laugh together as they talked about funny stories about their braces. I think it helped my daughter feel that she was not alone (and me too). It was wonderful that the moms also had the opportunity to share our experiences from the parent perspective. We learned a lot from each other and found this experience invaluable. We all left feeling more empowered. - Parent of Child with Scoliosis
"The Schroth Method is so right because it trains the muscles and the tissues, which are trainable, to move in a direction opposite our malformations." - Adult Scoliosis Patient
“My whole life, no one really understood what this is like. I just figured my scoliosis was my own struggle in life, and I've learned to live with it. But the whole way home last night I kept thinking "Oh my God, she gets it. Someone actually gets it." I can't even describe what that feels like. Nothing about yesterday felt foreign, or weird. It all felt right and just made sense.” - Adult Scoliosis Patient
"(The class) provided a warm and welcoming hands-on environment where physical therapists and patients could learn together under close supervision. As we are fairly new to the Schroth Method, we found that the sessions helped us enormously to understand it better. In addition, my daughter was able to meet other girls with scoliosis and share their stories. It was nice to see the girls laugh together as they talked about funny stories about their braces. I think it helped my daughter feel that she was not alone (and me too). It was wonderful that the moms also had the opportunity to share our experiences from the parent perspective. We learned a lot from each other and found this experience invaluable. We all left feeling more empowered. - Parent of Child with Scoliosis
"The Schroth Method is so right because it trains the muscles and the tissues, which are trainable, to move in a direction opposite our malformations." - Adult Scoliosis Patient
“My whole life, no one really understood what this is like. I just figured my scoliosis was my own struggle in life, and I've learned to live with it. But the whole way home last night I kept thinking "Oh my God, she gets it. Someone actually gets it." I can't even describe what that feels like. Nothing about yesterday felt foreign, or weird. It all felt right and just made sense.” - Adult Scoliosis Patient
Virtual Coaching Service
"The mentorship session I received from Amy was incredibly helpful. She was able to answer all the questions I had, as well as help me navigate different challenges I was presented with in clinic. It was a very personalized experience and I couldn't have been more grateful for her time!" - Allison Brown, PT
"The opportunity to follow up Rigo Schroth-Based training with a mentorship hour was invaluable to me, particularly as a sole proprietor clinician. Early on I participated in a virtual mentor hour, and later met and observed Amy practice in her clinic. This mentor time gave me an opportunity to not only clarify some details of the technique, but more importantly see how the techniques fit into the patient’s treatment plan clinically. As I continue to incorporate these techniques into my clinical practice, I expect I will use these services again." - Kathleen Pratt MSPT,OCS,SCS PTOnsite, PLLC
"The opportunity to follow up Rigo Schroth-Based training with a mentorship hour was invaluable to me, particularly as a sole proprietor clinician. Early on I participated in a virtual mentor hour, and later met and observed Amy practice in her clinic. This mentor time gave me an opportunity to not only clarify some details of the technique, but more importantly see how the techniques fit into the patient’s treatment plan clinically. As I continue to incorporate these techniques into my clinical practice, I expect I will use these services again." - Kathleen Pratt MSPT,OCS,SCS PTOnsite, PLLC
