We’ve all heard of scoliosis, but what exactly is it? Simply put, scoliosis is a condition that causes an individual’s spine to become curved and rotated – like the letters “S” or “C”. In some cases, scoliosis can be a harmless condition, but often it is important to straighten the spine to avoid long term issues from arising. Thankfully, here at Dynamics Disability Solutions we are really good at that!
Scoliosis brace design and technology have come a long way since their bulky, rigid predecessors were the industry norm. Modern day scoliosis braces are thin, flexible, and low-profile enough to fit under most clothing. For fun outfit ideas and to read more about scoliosis fashion, head over to our scoliosis patient center.
Recent breakthroughs in scoliosis bracing, most notably going from treating scoliosis one dimensionally to treating it in three dimensions, have made bracing the preferred conservative treatment option for most providers. As a result of this new way of thinking about and treating scoliosis, scoliosis bracing has become more effective, comfortable, and fashion-friendly than ever before.
Currently, the diagnosis of scoliosis relies solely on an x-ray, but clinically there is much more involved. In addition to a sideways curvature of the spine (frontal dimension; image 1 below) there is also vertebral rotation, or twisting, of the spine (transverse dimension; image 2 below), as well as a flattening of the trunk, referred to as “flat back” (sagittal dimension; image 3 below). These asymmetries are not always visible on an x-ray, but can often be seen during a clinical exam. When standing behind a patient with scoliosis, the shoulders, hips, and waist appear uneven. Viewed from the side, a patient’s profile may also appear to have a reduced kyphotic curvature. Upon a forward bend, the ribs may have a prominence and one shoulder blade may be more prominent than the other.
Because it works! The three dimensional nature of scoliosis has been known for a long time, but only in the past 15 years have these concepts been used in the United States to design and create scoliosis braces. Recent studies have shown that braces incorporating 3-dimensional correction are better able to reduce curvature and rotation, improve alignment, and achieve superior patient compliance and outcomes.
