ISST – Training Institute

The ISST-Training Institute was founded in 2016 by Axel Hennes and makes great efforts to provide adequate solutions for continued vocational training for relevant professional groups for conservative scoliosis treatment especially physical therapists and orthopedic technicians (in cooperation with Human Study).
The institute offers international training courses worldwide in more than 20 countries in the English language or translated in the local language.

Multidisciplinary team

The multidisciplinary team consisting of scoliosis diagnostic and treatment experienced medical doctors, orthopedic technicians, and physical therapists, and their communication and clinical reasoning, is a clear recommendation from the SOSORT guidelines (2016) for the treatment and management of idiopathic scoliosis.

A team approach focusing on scoliosis patients and their families is able to enhance compliance and the development of effective coping strategies and allows good adherence with braces and exercises.

For this reason, ISST-Training institute offers vocational training schemes for all members of the multidisciplinary team. A new approach are courses for medical doctors interested in the management of idiopathic scoliosis. For more information please read Courses for doctors.

Spine-Concept Sobernheim (SC)

Spine Concept Sobernheim is a multidisciplinary cooperation of experts with extensive experience in scoliosis and kyphosis field under the leadership of Asklepios. These skilled and creative experts, forming a strong team consisting of medical doctors, orthopedic technicians (Sanomed), and Schroth therapists, and ensure optimal and efficient conditions for patient care (1).

The basic principles of SC in the realm of braces and orthopedic technical solutions
were presented by Mr.Heinen OT and Mr.Rexing OT in May 2015 at the annual SOSORT-meeting (Society on Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment) in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Also involved in the brace development was Mr. Steffan MD the former medical director of the Asklepios Katharina Schroth clinic. Since 2016 he is in charge of the medical out-patient spine center (MVZ-Sobernheim) with the focus on individual client-centered conservative treatment of scoliosis and kyphosis.
Physical therapy scoliosis specific exercises in combination with effective brace treatment was contributed by Mr. Hennes PT the former head of the physical therapy department of the Asklepios clinic, international senior Schroth instructor, and founder of the ISST-Training Institute.
The Asklepios Katharina Schroth Clinic in Bad Sobernheim, Germany with its medical director Dr. Zabar and a highly specialized team of Schroth therapists provides intensive three to five weeks in-patient highly specific Schroth rehab-programs for scoliosis, kyphosis, and other spinal deformities.
The treatment approach consists of four to six hours of group sessions with additional individual functional training for about 180 to 200 patients.

SC-Concept – Goals and Principles

The primary goal of SC is a highly appropriated conservative out-patient treatment approach for patients affected with scoliosis and kyphosis provided by the already mentioned team of medical, technical, and therapeutic experts.
Standardization of internal processes and procedures in the care of patients together with continuously reviewing and challenging these measures are typical features in an evidence-based and quality management principles following approach.
The documentation of the results with modern technical devices like EOS, MRI, Formetric, and full-body scan enables a comparison with other concepts and builds the fundaments and prerequisites for the development of internal guidelines contributing to the existing common guidelines.
The combination of effective brace treatment (Sanomed-Brace) and specific brace-related physical exercises (Schroth) enhance the efficacy of conservative scoliosis therapy (2).

An international survey of scoliosis experts (SOSORT-Guidelines 2011) resulted in the recommendation for the development of expert teams and treatment centers in scoliosis and kyphosis patient care. Further expertise and quality standards for processes and procedures, provided by the professional core team, were defined (1).

Ref.:

1. Negrini S, et.al.: 2016 SOSORT guidelines: orthopedic and rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth; Scoliosis and Spinal Disorders (2018) 13:3
2. Kwan K, et.al., Effectiveness of Schroth exercises during bracing in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: results from a preliminary study—SOSORT Award 2017 Winner Scoliosis and Spinal Disorders (2017) 12:32