Rigo Concept BSPTS

(Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School)

Rigo Concept BSPTS is a school created to offer education to Physiotherapists in treating patients with scoliosis and other spinal disorders, according to the general principles of the so called Physiotherapy Scoliosis Specific Exercises–PSSE (SOSORT Guidelines).

The Barcelona School was founded by Elena Salvá, a Catalan Physiotherapist, who introduced the German ‘Schroth Method’ in Barcelona during the 60’s.

Thus, BSPTS, was initially inspired and based on the original physiotherapy method created by Katharina Schroth in 1921. The Schroth method became popular in Germany through K. Schroth’s daughter, Christa Lehnert-Schroth. Elena Salvá learned from both women before bringing the method to Barcelona.

At the late 80’s, Dr. Manuel Rigo and his wife, Dr. Gloria Quera Salvá, Elena’s daughter, started educating Spanish Physiotherapists in accordance with Lehnert- Schroth and Dr. H.R. Weiss methodology, Christa’s son. BSPTS was certifying physiotherapists, National and International, under the name of Schroth until the end of 2008.

Since then, three different branches emerged, the ISST from A.M. Hennes; Best Practice, From Dr. H-R- Weiss; and the Rigo Concept BSPTS. These three branches are based, on some way, in the original Schroth method, but nowadays, they can be considered relevantly different, conceptually as well as technically.

Rigo Concept BSPTS has evolved paying attention to three spheres of knowledge:

1. Specific knowledge on Scoliosis and other spinal disorders
2. The Rigo Concept BSPTS. Based on four general principles: Three-dimensional stable postural correction; Expansion Technique; Muscle activation and Integration.
3. The Rigo Concept BSPTS-Technique. Based on different touching formats (feeling format, passive-active format, inducing format, dissociating format, activation format, integration format)

Rigo Concept BSPTS’s proposal is about helping the physiotherapist to find a balance between these three spheres of knowledge.

The general objectives of the certification are the following:

Microsoft Word – BSPTS Concept by Rigo Educational Programme.docx

General Objectives of the Rigo Concept BSPTS certification course:

• Give the physiotherapist specific information and knowledge about scoliosis (assessment, natural history, prognosis and treatment) to become a qualified member of a multidisciplinary team according to SOSORT Guidelines.
• Encourage thinking and critical/constructive reasoning when facing the different theories on the causes and development of scoliosis, the assessment systems and the treatment strategies, mainly non-surgical (Rehabilitation and Bracing).

Basic Level: Basic knowledge on scoliosis and other alterations of the spine.

Addressed to all health professionals interested in acquiring specific basic knowledge on scoliosis and other spinal disorders.

The Basic Level course will be available on-line and face to face. On-line course is announced in the new BSPTS.net website.

Face to face Basic Level course is a three-day course (8 H per day – Three days) combining lecture on theoretical and practical knowledge.

In order to organize the lectures for this level what is needed is: a room with tables, a projector and a board. Attendants should have a laptop, minimum one per 2 students, which needs to have a program to measure X-rays installed. Program that will be handed out with the instructions for its use when the registration for the course is done.

Specific objectives of the Basic Level:

Train the students to:

• Be an active member of a multidisciplinary team, for the treatment of the deformities of the spine.
• Understand the ethiopathogenesis and pathomechanism of the morphological alterations of the spine in the sagittal plane, as well as the idiopathic scoliosis.
• carry out a clinical and functional assessment of the patient with scoliosis and elaborate a complete clinical history.
• Make a correct clinical and functional diagnosis of the morphological alterations of the sagittal plane and the scoliosis.
• Use and interpret the questionnaires about the life quality of the patient with scoliosis.
• Assess and interpret the additional radiological tests of the patient with scoliosis using digital tools for its assessment, diagnosis, comprehension and prognosis.
• Assess, analyze and understand the orthopedic treatment to be used in the deformities of the spine.
• Understand the importance of the use of scientific evidence in the non-surgical treatment of the scoliosis.
• Apply the SOSORT Guide for the Clinical Practice, published in 2018.

Rigo Concept BSPTS Course Level 1. General Principles of the Rigo Concept BSPTS; Specific principles of Correction; Pre- defined Strategies of Correction according to Rigo Classification and Basic Unloading Starting Positions and Integration in Loading Positions.

This level lasts 6 days, 8 hours per day, a total of 48 teaching hours, where theoretical and practical explanations are combined. This level is mainly practical, with approximately 70% of practical work and 30% theoretical.
In order to organize the lectures for this level what is needed is: a room for the theoretical lectures, a projector and a board. Also a room like a gym with wall bars to do exercises and rehabilitation material like 2 meter long poles, sacks, rubber or wooden bricks, rollers, elastic bands and mirrors.

Specific objectives at Level 1

Train the student to:

• Describe the general principles of the Rigo Concept BSPTS.
• Establish the specific principles to treat the scoliosis.
• Define the correction strategies needed for each specific case and at each of its treatment positions.
• Develop a treatment plan appropriate for the clinical and radiological aspects specific to the patient.
• Select the basic starting positions (supine, prone, decubitus lateral, sitting and standing) depending on each curve pattern.
• Carry out the treatment of the patients based on the treatment and correction principles 3D of Rigo Concept BSPTS during the treatment positions and put it in tension appropriately for each curve pattern.

Rigo Concept BSPTS Course Level 2. Rigo Concept BSPTS applied to Loading and advanced exercises. Treatment supervision.

This level lasts 6 days, 8 hours per day, a total of 48 teaching hours, where theoretical and practical explanations are combined. This level is mainly practical, with approximately 80% of practical work and 20% theoretical.

In order to organize the lectures for this level what is needed is: a room for the theoretical lectures, a projector and a board. Also a room like a gym with wall bars to do exercises and rehabilitation material like 2-meter-long poles, sacks, rubber or wooden bricks, rollers, elastic bands and mirrors.

In Level 2 there is supervision of the student’s work treating patients with alterations in the spine and scoliosis. As a consequence, patients are needed to carry out the practical work.

Specific objectives Level 2

• Describe the general principles of the Rigo Concept BSPTS.
• Establish the specific principles to treat the scoliosis.
• Define the correction strategies needed for each specific case and at each of its treatment positions.
• Develop a treatment plan appropriate for the clinical and radiological aspects specific to the patient.
• Carry out the advanced exercises for the treatment of scoliosis.

Rigo Concept BSPTS Course Level 3. Rigo Concept BSPTS for adult complex patients and post-surgery complications. Strategies for management of patients forming little groups. The Rigo Concept brace.

This level lasts 6 days, 8 hours per day, a total of 48 teaching hours, where theoretical and practical explanations are combined. This level is mainly practical, with approximately 50% of practical work and 50% theoretical.

In order to organize the lectures for this level what is needed is: a room for the theoretical lectures, a projector and a board. Also a room like a gym with wall bars to do exercises and rehabilitation material like 2-meter-long poles, sacks, rubber or wooden bricks, rollers, elastic bands and mirrors.

In Level 3 there is practical work with the students treating patients with alterations in the spine and scoliosis. As a consequence, patients are needed to carry out the practical work.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES LEVEL 3

Train the student to:

• Define scoliosis in adults: novo scoliosis and adolescence scoliosis with development in the adult.
• Describe the clinical and radiological aspects of the adult patient with scoliosis and the differences between the two clinical types.
• Know about the current range of surgical approaches for patients with scoliosis.
• Establish teamwork to treat patients with scoliosis.
• Differentiate the correction principle using the Rigo Concept brace.