Athens, Greece
Nikos Karavidas
Physiotherapist, MSc
Founder & Chair of the PSSE-Schroth Method
Director, Schroth Scoliosis & Spine Clinic
🏛 SRS LEAD Member
🌍 20+ Countries
📄 7 PubMed Publications
🏆 Multiple Best Presentation Awards
About Nikos
Nikos Karavidas is a Physiotherapist born on February 28th, 1985, in Athens. In April 2017, he founded the Schroth Scoliosis & Spine Clinic — a specialized center for the treatment of scoliosis and other spinal deformities. Today, it is one of the largest clinics of its kind in the world, with more than 250 patients visiting weekly.
He is the Founder and Chair of the PSSE-Schroth method (Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises), the latest evidence-based development in scoliosis and kyphosis treatment. His method is now taught in more than 20 countries worldwide.
Nikos is internationally recognized as one of the leading experts in the non-operative treatment of scoliosis and kyphosis. He is an active member of the world's most important scientific societies in spine care, where he plays a key role in promoting conservative treatment approaches.
In December 2017 he began teaching Schroth courses in Greece and by September 2019 expanded internationally to Turkey and Egypt — becoming the first-ever Schroth Instructor in the entire African region.
He is among the very few physiotherapists worldwide certified in all Schroth-based techniques, having received his education directly from the leading experts: Dr. Manuel Rigo (BSPTS), Axel Hennes (ISST), and Dr. Hans Rudolf Weiss (Schroth Best Practice). Uniquely, he is the only physiotherapist in the world who was invited to become an instructor by all three major Schroth schools.
250+
Patients per week
20+
Countries teaching PSSE-Schroth
7
PubMed publications
2015→
SOSORT presenter every year
2017
Clinic founded
2025
SRS LEAD — 1st physiotherapist ever
Education & Certifications
2007
BSc Physiotherapy
University of West Attica, Athens. Dissertation: "Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Conservative and Surgical Treatment".
2010 – 2012
MSc Sports Physiotherapy — Cardiff University
Dissertation: "The relationship between FMS scores, hip strength, and postural control measured as the COP excursion during single leg balancing in young healthy adults".
2012
SEAS Method Certification
Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis — Milan, Italy.
2014
BSPTS C1 — First Greek physiotherapist certified in Schroth
Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School, with Dr. Manuel Rigo. C2 Level followed in 2015, Zwolle, Netherlands.
2015
McKenzie MDT & Schroth Best Practice
McKenzie Institute Greece (Lumbar, Thoracic, Cervical). Schroth Best Practice — Nijmegen, Netherlands, Dr. Hans Rudolf Weiss. First Greek physiotherapist certified. Invited to become instructor for the Balkan area (declined).
2017
Founded Schroth Scoliosis & Spine Clinic
Athens, Greece. Now one of the largest dedicated scoliosis clinics in the world. First Schroth course conducted in December 2017.
2018
ISST Certification
International Schroth Scoliosis Treatment — Bad Sobernheim, Germany, with Axel Hennes, Head of Physiotherapy Department. Invited to become ISST instructor (declined).
2019
First Schroth Instructor in Africa
Expanded teaching internationally to Turkey and Egypt — becoming the first-ever Schroth instructor in the entire African region.
2020
Lyon Method Certification
Dr. Jean Claude de Mauroy — Cairo, Egypt.
2022
PSSE-Schroth Method — Official Launch
Officially developed his own approach with a new scoliosis curve type classification and innovative concepts for 3D correction. Now taught in 20+ countries.
2024
Clinical Pilates — PSSE Innovation
PSSE-Schroth became the only technique applying scoliosis-specific exercises using Pilates equipment (Reformer, Cadillac, Spine Corrector, Ladder Barrel, Wunda Chair).
2025
SRS LEAD Program — First-ever physiotherapist
Accepted into the Scoliosis Research Society Leadership, Education and Development Program — a landmark recognition in the global field of spinal deformity care.
Scientific Societies & Roles
SRS
Comprehensive Care Committee Member · SRS LEAD Member (first-ever physiotherapist, 2025)
Eurospine
Program Committee Member · Nomination Committee Member · EDISC Faculty Member
SOSORT
Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment
Scientific Committee Member (since 2018)
IRSSD
International Research Society for Spinal Deformities
Scientific Committee Member (since January 2024)
BSS
British Scoliosis Society
Member
AO Spine
AO Spine
Member
HSS
Hellenic Spine Society
Member
PPA
Panhellenic Physiotherapy Association
Member
GSAP
Greek Scientific Association of Physiotherapists
Member
Awards & Honours
2015
Eurospine Travel Grant — 1 of only 5 awarded annually among hundreds of participants. Presentation: "Bracing for AIS and Scheuermann Kyphosis: The issue of overtreatment in Greece", Dublin.
2021
SOSORT Award Session — Research voted among the best for the 16th SOSORT Annual Meeting: "Brace and PSSE for AIS treatment: A prospective study following SRS criteria".
2022
Best Presentation — 3rd SCOSYM, Athens: "Complete non-operative treatment with brace and scoliosis specific exercises can be effective for severe scoliotic curves exceeding 40 degrees at peak of growth".
2022
Best Oral Presentation — World Spinal Column Society 9th Congress: "Non-operative treatment with brace and PSSE for severe scoliotic curves exceeding 40 degrees at peak of growth".
2024
SRS Comprehensive Care Committee Member & IRSSD Scientific Committee Member. Program Committee Member of EUROSPINE.
2025
SRS LEAD Program — first-ever physiotherapist accepted into this prestigious program for the next generation of leaders in global spinal deformity care. Eurospine Nomination Committee Member.
Publications (PubMed indexed)
Scientific Journal Reviewer
European Spine Journal
Spine Deformity Journal
Eur J Physical & Rehab Medicine
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
International Conferences
- 20th SOSORT, April 2025, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Brace and Kyphosis Specific Exercises can effectively treat Scheuermann kyphosis at the peak of growth
- 3D radiological and clinical prognostic factors for failures and improvements of bracing for AIS: A comparative analysis
- Association between quality-of-life questionnaires with curve magnitude, trunk rotation and body symmetry indexes in AIS
- Can non-operative treatment with brace and SSE be effective for severe scoliotic curves exceeding 40 degrees at peak of growth?
- Correlation between SRS-22 Questionnaire and ISYQOL Questionnaire. Can we use them for the same purpose
- 19th SOSORT, May 2024, Boston, USA
- AIS treatment, combining in-person and online sessions, can increase compliance, enhance effectiveness, and improve monitoring of patients with transportation barriers
- Bracing at later growth stage for severe scoliosis >40° can be effective for patients refusing surgical treatment
- Can clinical evaluation tools predict curve progression in AIS? A correlational study
- Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of a new AIS curve type classification, based on clinical, radiological and prognostic criteria
- 18th SOSORT, SpineWeek, May 2023, Melbourne, Australia
- Non-operative treatment for AIS by a combination of Chenau brace and PSSE-Schroth, for curves at high risk of progression
- Schroth–PSSE exercises can reduce the risk for progression during peak of growth in curves below 25 degrees: Prospective Control Study
- 17th SOSORT, May 2022, San Sebastian, Spain
- Complete conservative treatment with brace and SSE can be effective for severe scoliotic curves exceeding 40 degrees at peak of growth
- 16th SOSORT, April 2021, (e-SOSORT 2021) — SOSORT Award Session
- Brace and PSSE for AIS treatment: A prospective study following SRS criteria
- 15th SOSORT, April 2020, Melbourne (e-SOSORT 2020, June 2020)
- Predictive factors for successful bracing in the treatment of AIS: Evidence to date
- 14th SOSORT, April 2019, San Francisco, USA
- PSSE can reduce the risk of progression in AIS during the peak of growth: A prospective study with a control group
- Non-fusion scoliosis treatment with ApiFix system: PSSE with Schroth method can significantly improve the final result
- 13th SOSORT, April 2018, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Beyond the Cobb angle: Alternative methods for assessment of spinal deformity patients
- AIS treatment with the Dynamic Derotation Brace (DDB): An analysis using patients at high risk of progression
- 12th SOSORT, May 2017, Lyon, France
- Radiological and clinical improvement in scoliotic patients with single thoracolumbar curves, treated with Schroth BSPTS exercises
- Epidemiological analysis of AIS in terms of diagnosis, family history, hobbies, pain and curve type
- 11th SOSORT, May 2016, Banff, Canada
- ApiFix treatment for AIS: The importance of Schroth method exercises after the minimal invasive operation
- 10th SOSORT, May 2015, Katowice, Poland — First Greek physiotherapist to present at SOSORT
- Brace treatment for AIS and Scheuermann Kyphosis: The issue of overtreatment in Greece
- Milan 2012, Chicago 2013, Wiesbaden 2014 — attendance
- 60th SRS Annual Meeting, September 2025, Charlotte, USA
- 3D Radiological and Clinical Prognostic Factors for Failure and Improvement of Bracing for AIS: a Comparative Analysis
- 32nd IMAST, April 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
- Brace and Kyphosis Specific Exercises can effectively treat Scheuermann kyphosis at the peak of growth
- Tele-Scoli-Screen & Treat (TSST) Protocol for scoliosis treatment, combining in-person and online treatment sessions, for patients with transportation barriers
- 31st IMAST, April 2024, San Diego, USA
- Can Non-Operative Treatment with Brace and SSE Be Effective for Severe Scoliotic Curves Exceeding 40° at Peak of Growth
- 58th SRS Annual Meeting, September 2023, Seattle, USA
- PSSE Indications, Protocols and Program Characteristics
- 30th IMAST, March 2023, Dublin, Ireland
- Non-operative treatment for severe scoliotic curves exceeding 40 degrees at peak of growth by brace and PSSE-Schroth
- 27th IMAST, April 2020, Athens (virtual July 2020) — First Greek physiotherapist to present at IMAST
- ApiFix treatment for AIS: Non-fusion technique combined with Scoliosis Specific Exercises
- Eurospine Meeting, October 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Bracing and PSSE can be an alternative treatment option for severe scoliotic patients who refused surgery
- Physiotherapy for acute and chronic low back pain
- Non-Operative Treatment for Adolescent Scheuermann Kyphosis with Brace and PKSE
- 3D Radiological and Clinical Prognostic Factors for Failure and Improvement of Bracing for AIS: a Comparative Analysis
- Eurospine Meeting, October 2023, Frankfurt, Germany
- Combined non-operative treatment for AIS by brace and PSSE, for curves at high risk for progression
- Eurospine Webinar, January 2023 — SpineTuesday "Rehabilitation of AIS"
- Evidence based recommendations on exercise therapy in AIS
- 3rd EDISC, October 2023, Online
- Exercise Approach to Scoliosis · Exercises for Spinal Pain during growth: Theory and Practice
- 2nd EDISC, October 2022, Online
- Exercise Approach to Scoliosis · Exercises for Spinal Pain during growth: Theory and Practice
- Eurospine Meeting, October 2021, Vienna, Austria
- Brace and PSSE for AIS treatment: A prospective study following SRS criteria
- 1st EDISC, September & October 2021, Online
- Exercise Approach to Scoliosis · Exercises for Spinal Pain during growth: Theory and Practice
- Eurospine Meeting, October 2017, Dublin, Ireland — Travel Grant recipient (1 of 5 worldwide) · Only Greek presenter
- Bracing for AIS and Scheuermann Kyphosis: The issue of overtreatment in Greece
- BSS & NSDS Meeting, November 2025, London, UK
- Brace and kyphosis specific exercises can effectively treat Scheuermann Kyphosis at the peak of growth
- Effectiveness of Bracing and SSE for severe curves over 40 degrees during peak growth
- Prognostic factors for Bracing success and failure in AIS: A Comprehensive evaluation
- Radiological and clinical assessments in AIS: Do they truly reflect Quality of Life?
- 5th Brazilian Congress on Scoliosis, June 2025, São Paulo, Brazil
- Effectiveness of Bracing and SSE for Severe Curves Over 40° During Peak Growth
- Prognostic Factors for Bracing Success and Failure in AIS: A Comprehensive Evaluation
- Radiological and Clinical Assessments in AIS – Do They Truly Reflect Quality of Life
- 5th SCOSYM, September 2024, Split, Croatia
- Bracing at later growth stage for severe scoliosis >40° can be an alternative for patients refusing surgical treatment
- Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of a new AIS curve type classification
- AIS treatment, combining in-person and online sessions, can increase compliance and improve monitoring for patients with transportation barriers
- Can clinical evaluation tools predict curve progression in AIS? A correlational study
- IRSSD Scientific Meeting, June 2024, Hong Kong
- New AIS curve type classification, based on clinical, radiological and prognostic criteria
- Non-operative treatment at late growth by brace and PSSE for severe scoliosis
- 4th SCOSYM, September 2023, Istanbul, Turkey
- PSSE-Schroth can reduce the risk for progression during the peak of growth in curves below 25° – Prospective control study
- AIS treatment by bracing and PSSE-Schroth, for curves at high risk of progression
- World Physiotherapy Congress, June 2023, Dubai, UAE
- PSSE-Schroth reduce the risk for progression during the peak of growth: Prospective Control Study
- China International Conference, October 2023, Online
- PSSE-Schroth method: The latest advancement in scoliosis and kyphosis treatment
- Romanian International Conference, October 2023, Online
- PSSE-Schroth new curve type classification
- Diploma of Hellenic Spine Society, April 2023, Athens, Greece
- Conservative treatment of spinal deformities: The role of rehabilitation
- Pediatric Orthopedic Conference, March 2023, Ankara, Turkey
- AIS and Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercises (PSSE)
- World Spinal Column Society 9th Congress & 15th Hellenic Spine Society, October 2022, Athens — Best Oral Presentation Award
- Non-operative treatment with brace and PSSE for severe scoliotic curves exceeding 40 degrees at peak of growth
- Non-fusion surgical treatment for AIS by ApiFix system
- 3rd SCOSYM, September 2022, Athens, Greece — Best Presentation Award
- Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercises (PSSE) Schools
- Complete non-operative treatment with brace and SSE can be effective for severe scoliotic curves exceeding 40 degrees at peak of growth
- Albanian Physiotherapy Congress IV, 2022
- Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercises PSSE – Schroth method
- International Gazi Health Sciences Congress, December 2021, Online, Turkey
- Orthosis for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Treatment
- 3rd Scientific Conference of Physical Therapy, November 2021, South Valley University, Egypt
- PSSE: Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (BSPTS) – Rigo Concept
- 2nd SCOSYM, September 2021, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School (BSPTS) – Rigo Concept
- Nordic Spinal Deformities Society (NSDS) Meeting, August 2021, Online
- Brace and PSSE for AIS treatment: A prospective study following SRS criteria
- 1st International Conference on Scoliosis Management, April 2019, Istanbul, Turkey
- Assessment of Adult Scoliosis
- 10th International Prosthetics & Orthotics Conference, October 2018, Ankara, Turkey
- Scoliosis exercises within the braces and Brace modifications for exercises
- Global Spine Congress 2016, Dubai, UAE
- The ApiFix automatic self-correction technique for AIS at 1½ years follow-up: A preliminary report (e-poster)
- DKOU 2015, October 2015, Berlin, Germany — Invited Lecturer
- Corrective Exercises in the treatment of Scoliosis
- MISS Congress, November 2025, Thessaloniki
- Schroth method for scoliosis
- 18th Panhellenic Spine Society Meeting, October 2025, Larisa
- Combined brace and kyphosis specific exercises for effective management of Scheuermann Kyphosis during growth spurt
- Predictive factors for successful and unsuccessful bracing in AIS
- 17th Hellenic Spine Society Congress, October 2024, Athens
- Scientific Evidence for PSSE for AIS treatment – What do we know?
- Can clinical evaluation tools predict curve progression in AIS? A correlational study
- Tele-Scoli-Screen & Treat (TSST) Protocol for scoliosis treatment
- 14th Hellenic Spine Society Congress, October 2021, Thessaloniki
- ApiFix treatment for AIS: Non-fusion technique combined with PSSE
- Brace and PSSE for AIS: A prospective study following SRS criteria
- 13th Hellenic Spine Society Meeting, November 2019, Ioannina
- Bracing in AIS: Predictive factors and evidence to date
- 10th Hellenic Spine Congress, October 2016, Thessaloniki
- PSSE: Recent evidence and the position of the International Scientific Societies, an updated review
- ApiFix treatment for AIS: The importance of Schroth method exercises after minimal invasive operation