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Conveniently located at 28 Bowling Green Parkway, Lake Hopatacong, NJ. A few minutes north of Route 80 on Route 15N.

Certified Schroth Physical Therapy

Individualized 1 on 1 Therapy

Hi, I'm Lea

I have been a licensed Physical Therapist since 1990. I graduated from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. For the first 6 years of my career, I worked with patients in hospitals, trauma units, cardiac rehab and inpatient rehab in urban settings in Pennsylvania. I grew up in Sussex County and my husband and I have raised our 6 children here for the past 22 years. During this time I worked in outpatient orthopedics, treating the spine and extremities, as well as in sports physical therapy. More recently, I witnessed the benefits of Schroth Therapy through my oldest son's experience. It was then that I decided to further my knowledge in this specialized therapy. In 2019, I became certified through the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (BSPTS). Schroth is a 3-dimensional approach to treating scoliosis and kyphosis that aims to obtain the best possible posture through addressing the components of elongation, rotation, lateral shifting and flexion of the spine. This is combined with corrective and expansive breathing techniques in order to strengthen the inner muscles of the ribs and core to further remedy and strengthen posture. I am also certified in the Italian Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) and The Lyon Method(French)

Other areas I have studied and have focussed on are dance physical therapy and screenings, as well as musculoskeletal infant torticollis. Please read more about theses specialties below.

ALL SESSIONS WITH LEA ARE ONE-ON-ONE

The History of Schroth Therapy

The Schroth Method was first started by Katarina Schroth in Germany in the 1920's. It was modified and developed over the years by Katarina and her daughter in order to correct the 3 dimensional posture that individuals with scoliosis have. By the 1980's, patients and physical therapists alike were drawn to their school because of the success they were having. Schroth was embraced by European PT's, and was finally introduced to the US in 2005.

Certified Schroth Physical Therapy

What is Schroth Therapy?

The Schroth Method is a conservative approach to treating individuals of all ages with scoliosis and kyphosis. Certified Schroth therapists receive extensive training and are tested so they can properly administer the techniques. The Schroth Method is a three dimensional approach that incorporates self-elongation, neuromuscular exercises, and breathing techniques. Schroth addresses the scoliosis from the pelvis though the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine. With hands-on guidance, the exercises activate and develop the inner muscles of the rib cage and torso in order to reshape the trunk and address the asymmetries and imbalances of the spine. It is designed to allow the patient to achieve the best three dimensional corrections that they can practice at home and maintain in their daily lives.

The benefits of Schroth include slowing or halting of the curve, decreased pain, improved pulmonary function, improved self-image, and increased mobility.

Infant Torticollis

Finding out that your child has a medical condition can cause parents and care givers anxiety. The goal of the physical therapy approach to infant torticollis is to stretch the tight muscles of the neck in order to allow the child to have full range of motion of the head. My job is to teach and empower parents to effectively and safely stretch their child and encourage proper movement patterns of the spine and head through play, positioning, and interactions throughout the day. The goal is to achieve full range of motion to allow the child to fully explore his or her world.

Dance Physical Therapy and Screenings

Dance to your fullest potential!

Dancing is an art/sport with unique demands. It requires the extremes of flexibility, strength, balance, and precise timing while exhibiting beautiful lines of movement. Dancers are able to convey emotion or tell a story while making difficult movements appear effortless. Often times this is done while balancing on the tips of their toes. My appreciation of dance and its demands came to me through watching my daughter dance for 15 years. Dancers have unique injuries, which compelled me to seek advice from the best and complete courses with Westside Dance Physical Therapy based in New York City. These courses taught me the correct biomechanics from the toes in plie' through dancing on pointe, and then up the entire chain of the body to the tips of the fingers.

I provide dance screenings, where I will thoroughly analyze the dancer's biomechanics, flexibility, and strength in order to identify areas of concern and correct/treat any deficits and prevent injury. The findings of the screenings are discussed with each patient, who is given a home program to work specifically on areas that may hold them back from reaching their potential. I have experience in treating traumatic dance injuries and dancers who recently underwent surgery. I was able to help them recover and to be prepared to move to the next level, as a result of implementing a holistic approach to therapy.