Back brace

A back brace is a device designed to limit the motion of the spine in cases of bone fracture or in post-operative spinal fusiona, as well as a preventative measure against some progressive conditions or to correct a patient's posture.

It grips the hips much like the Boston brace, and rises to approximately the same height, but pushes the patient's body to the side.

The Schroth theory holds that the deformity can be corrected through retraining muscles and nerves to learn what a straight spine feels like, and breathing deeply into areas crushed by the curvature to help gain flexibility and to expand.

The brace is made with a harness-like hip area and metal strips rising to the chin, where a collar (neck ring) is held in place.

Based on current scientific literature, this asymmetric brace type is designed to both prevent progression as well as reduce the curve as in-brace correction correlates to treatment outcome.

[5] This brace type is typically worn upwards of 18+ hours a day in conjunction with other conservative treatment options including physiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercises[6] such as Schroth.

The brace has a pelvic unit from which strong elastic bands wrap around the body, pulling against curves, rotations, and imbalances.

It is most successful when the patient has relatively small and simple curvatures, is structurally young, and compliant—it is usually worn 20 hours a day.

While it is expected that patients can participate in activities as strenuous as competitive gymnastics while in brace, it also pulls down against shoulder misalignments which compress the spine.

[7] SPoRT stands for "Symmetric, Patient-oriented, Rigid, Three-Dimensional active," which it intends[clarification needed] to be.

The theory holds that the support that the brace gives will[clarification needed] help the patient's body learn to work as though it had no curve muscularly.

The brace provides additional immobilization, which should safely allow condition or fracture to heal with a minimal risk of further injury.

In other cases the doctor or orthotist may prescribe such a brace to deal post-surgery immobilization, or for the longer-term treatment of conditions of a more progressive nature, such as correction of scoliosis in the growing adolescent.

These are described briefly below:[citation needed] After having undergoing complex spinal surgeries, this is especially the fusion procedures, a brace will probably be necessary.

There are a number of factors determining the need for brace wear include: – the severity of any instability, the lack of good bone quality, the location of the surgery, or the nature of the deformity.

If you are required to wear a brace to treat ongoing adolescent scoliosis, it will be necessary to visit the clinic or doctor or orthotist every few months.

[citation needed] The brace comes in a variety of forms and can be used for treating severe or unstable compression fractures as well as other injuries and conditions.

This brace designed to give support to the patient's thoracic and lumbar spine by preventing twisting and flexion (bending forward).

[citation needed] Posture corrector realign body to its original position by straightening from ankle to knee, pelvis, and shoulders to ear.

Front view of a pre-moulded plastic back brace with nylon torso and shoulder straps made for a female adolescent or pre-adolescent patient
Full rigid TLSO back brace – fitted to female adolescent patient showing issues with the patient fitting around hips and pelvic areas
Female adolescent (14 years old) patient wearing a Milwaukee brace, with neck ring and mandible pad showing
TLSO back brace – thoracolumbosacral orthosis, a brace for the mid to lower spine
Adolescent female patient shown in a rigid plastic moulded TLSO orthopedic brace
TLSO Jewett hyperextension body brace fitted to adolescent female patient in full support body suit