Bracing as a Scoliosis Treatment
Doctors may advise bracing in order to stop a curve from getting worse. Bracing may be used when:
- The person is still growing and has a curve of more than 25 to 30 degrees
- The person is still growing and has a curve between 20 and 29 degrees that is getting worse
- The person has at least two years of growth remaining and has a curve that is between 20 and 29 degrees.
However, females who have started their monthly period should not use bracing.
When a child is near the end of growth, the use of bracing will depend on how the curve affects the child's appearance, whether the curve is getting worse, and the size of the curve.
Scoliosis Treatment Bracing: Types of Braces
The decision about which brace to wear will depend on the type of curve and whether the patient will follow the doctor's directions about how many hours a day to wear the brace.
Braces can be custom-made or they can be made from a prefabricated mold. All braces must be selected for the specific curve problem and fitted to each patient. In order for braces to have their intended effect (to keep a curve from getting worse), braces must be worn every day for the full number of hours prescribed by the doctor until the child stops growing.
The two main types of braces used for
scoliosis treatment include the Milwaukee brace and the thoracolumbosacral orthosis.
Milwaukee Brace
Patients can wear this brace to correct any curve in the spine. This brace has a neck ring.
Thoracolumbosacral Orthosis (TLSO)
Patients can wear this brace to correct curves whose apex is at or below the eighth thoracic vertebra. The TLSO is an underarm brace, which means that it fits under the arm and around the rib cage, lower back, and hips.
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