Katharina Schroth developed the original Schroth Method scoliosis program in Germany in 1921. Katharina had suffered from a moderate scoliosis and at the age of 16 underwent treatment with a steel brace; she then decided to develop a functional treatment approach for scoliosis, now known as the Schroth Method.

Katharina’s daughter Christa (a physical therapist) worked with her mother, together they established an Institute to deliver their scoliosis program in Sobernheim, Germany (Sanatorium Lehnert-Schroth later renamed the Katharina Schroth Clinic). Christa advanced the Schroth method and developed the Lehnert-Schroth augmented classification system in the 1970s, which is still used by practitioners today. Christa is also the author of Three-Dimensional Treatment for Scoliosis (now in its 7th English edition).

Katharina’s grandson and Christa’s son, Dr Hans-Rudolf Weiss, an orthopedic surgeon, has continued their work. He is the former medical director of the Asklepios Katharina Schroth Clinic and is now in private practice in Gensingen, Germany. Dr Weiss has evolved the method and The Schroth Best Practice Program is the recent development of the original program. He also developed the Schroth compatible scoliosis brace, the Chêneau Gensingen® brace and has written numerous books and research papers.