The first studies on the Schroth Best Practice approach have been published in 2006. One study was on the physic-logic® approach, the other on physic-logic® in combination with the ADL-based approach together with the recent evidence based Schroth developments well described in the textbook as available.

Meanwhile a randomized controlled trial (RCT) from Turkey is available showing that the out patient Schroth program leads to significant improvements when compared to an untreated control group. This is currently the only RCT on the Schroth program with an untreated control group. The authors have also tested parts of the Schroth 'Best Practice' Program, namely the physio-logic® concept, and found this effectively also influencing scoliosis in 3D. 

It has been shown by Borysov and Borysov 2012 (Ukraine) as well as in a paper by Lee 2014 from South Korea that this new program is highly effective. In order to show the development of the recent physical techniques and braces the history of all the actual advancements are outlined in the following.

A recent paper by Moramarco and Borysov also outlines the recent developments in a historical context.

Physical rehabilitation

The common trunk of modern physical rehabilitation is the Schroth Method as described in textbooks and in the international literature. This method was developed by Katharina Schroth in Meissen, Germany and developed further by Christa Lehnert Schroth and her son Dr. Hans-Rudolf Weiss at the Katharina Schroth Clinic in Bad Sobernheim, Germany. Here Dr. Rigo has learnt to apply this concept and he also later was involved as an instructor for the Katharina Schroth Clinic before he provided Schroth physiotherapy in his own name, not very different to the concepts still done at the original center in Bad Sobernheim. Steps of the recent development were made from 2001 on:


2004: The physio-logic® program with results published 2006. Independently the physio-logic® program has been investigated 2015.

2005: The systematic application of pattern specific activities of daily living (ADLs) with results published 2006. 


2009: First Best Practice course: HR Weiss (2009)  Instructional Course: Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis. 5th World Congress of ISPRM (Istanbul, Turkey, 13-17 June 2009). 

2010: Best Practice program described in a German textbook. 

2013: Description and application of extra corporealshock wave therapy (ECSWT) to release a functional tethered cord syndrome. 



2015: Description of the recent developments in a new textbook. 



2016: Development of a series of exercises to address a functional tethered cord syndrome. 






Best Practice Bracing 

The common trunk of Best Practice bracing has been the Chêneau courses held in the Katharina Schroth Clinic during the 90es of the last century. These courses were arranged by Dr. Weiss in collaboration with Sanomed, Bad Sobernheim, Germany. Dr. Rigo has taken part in these courses and has acquired the skills necessary to produce cast based braces by himself. During this time a book has been published describing the way Chêneau braces have been made on the basis of the casting technique. At the beginning of the new century in collaboration with Dr. Weiss the Rigo System Chêneau brace (RSC brace) based on the CAD / CAM technology has been developed in Bad Sobernheim, Germany as well. 


Shorter brace design and half pelvis brace shows the better in-brace correction.

2001: The first short brace for the treatment of single lumbar curves and the first half pelvis brace has successfully been applied by Dr. Weiss, Bad Sobernheim, Germany, published in a textbook 2003.


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First version of the physic-logic® brace

2003: The physio-logic® brace has been developed by Dr. Weiss, Bad Sobernheim, Germany (H R Weiss (2004)  Ein neues Korsett zur Behandlung der Idiopathischen Skoliose und anderer Wirbelsäulendeformitäten. Orthopädie-Technik 55:  808-814.), published internationally 2006 and 2009.  



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Kyphologic brace® 

2005: A new developed design for kyphosis braces has been described by Dr. Weiss, Bad Sobernheim, Germany (H R Weiss (2005)  Ein neuer Zuschnitt in der Korsettversorgung der thorakalen Kyphose. Med Orthop Techn 125), published internationally 2009. 



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Spondylogic® brace for spinal instabilities

2005: A new brace design for instabilities has been introduced by Dr. Weiss (spondylogic brace®).


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Rigo System Chêneau (RSC) brace (left) and Cheneau-light brace (right) were developed at the Asklepios Clinic.

2005: The Cheneau light brace is introduced by Dr. Weiss, published internationally 2006 and 2007. 


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Gensingen brace by Dr. Weiss (GBW) model 3CH 2012

2009: A new CAD / CAM brace has been introduced by Dr. Weiss published internationally 2010 called 'Gensingen brace according to Dr. Weiss®' (GBW). 


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2012: A new soft brace has been described internationally. (A retraction note has been published due to a complaint by SpineCor / Spinecorporation ltd, and the authors arguments against this have not been respected).


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GBW model 3CH 2016

2015: The latest scientific evidence for the actual development of the Gensingen brace® (GBW) has been published. 

2016: The GBW in preliminary studies has a better outcome than other braces as applied today (R Weiss, N Tournavitis, S Seibel (2016)  PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE AIS COHORT TREATED WITH A GENSINGEN BRACE (GBW) 10th. Hellenic Spine Congress, Thessaloniki, October 26th - 29th) even in patient with curvature exceeding 40° (H R Weiss, N Tournavitis, S Seibel (2016)  A PROSPECTIVE AIS COHORT OF 40° AND MORE TREATED WITH A GENSINGEN BRACE (GBW) - PRELIMINARY RESULTS 10th. Hellenic Spine Congress, Thessaloniki, October 26th - 29th).

2017: Updated evidence supporting brace treatment beyond 40° Cobb with the GBW has been presented at the ISPO conference in Cape Town, South Africa:

This has also been published in a recent paper: TOORTHJ-11-1558