Avoiding spine surgery "for life" is not an easy thing with scoliosis, or at least for those with large curves.... Non-Scoliosis patients also have to worry about spine surgery. Degeneration happens and most likely happens faster with big curves. There might be a study on this.
Bracing delays for the kids, and scolis with large curves as adults, age 50 with 50 Cobb's need to think a little harder about things. Address the pain and ask, can I make it a few more decades with my curves? Discussing these things with a scoliosis surgeon is a good idea not only for the spine, but they look at everything else. They thought I had cancer that's why I say this. My surgeries had to happen at some point, by who, I didn't know, but I was ready to make major changes to make it happen, my life depended on it.
On the subject of Schroth, I found a historical article written by Dr Weiss. This goes back around 100 years to 1921, when Katherina had a steel brace that she wore. A steel brace sounds like torture, so I can see why she put in so much effort into doing something when little was known. She was basically on her own and even with being untrained she deserves a huge pat on the back for her efforts. There are some amazing photos in this article. Weiss talks about studies in later years....
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3180431/
I never paid attention to Schroth since years ago, it wasn't around in the US. After trying all sorts of things through the years and submitting to surgery, alternatives become a thing of the past for elder fusion patients. I don't have an exercise ball anymore.....I had one most of my life. My stretching chair and arch table are gone now....Looking at the historical photos brings back memories of my un-fused life.
Ed