Scoliosis bracing is a good treatment option for some forms of scoliosis. But how is it diagnosed properly?
Scoliosis Bracing and Diagnosis
A scoliosis brace is prescribed by looking at the back of a scoliosis patient, the notable feature is the muscular imbalance of both sides. On one side of the back, the muscles above the spine are swollen and pushed back while the other side looks flat. This is caused by the curve of scoliosis. The muscles inside have already weakened and shrunk causing the muscles outside to realize the strain forcing them to over-develop in order to hold up the upper body.
Remarkably, there are a lot of studies about hard bracing that shows there’s very little evidence to prove that it’s effective to reduce the effect of scoliosis and in preventing its progression. Also, the hard brace becomes a social burden especially to young girls who want to fit into the crowd. Some patients believe that they developed psychological scars because of bracing during their younger years.
The Soft Scoliosis Brace
A soft scoliosis brace is a completely different kind of scoliosis bracing. With a dynamic brace, the patient has the freedom to move around. It is specially designed to assist the body in developing new patterns of movement and it can really help in the reduction of curve caused by scoliosis. Both children and adults can use the soft brace and realize effective results.
A typical dynamic scoliosis brace does not strict a patient’s movement. In fact, it encourages corrective direction of body movement also known as tension orthosis. With the help of elastic resistance, the weakened muscles in the spine are aided to regain strength. The body is encouraged to do corrective movements of the affected spine. In the long run, these corrective movements turn into habits and become more natural. Thus, helping the spinal curve to become smaller.
Orthotic or brace treatment’s main goal is to prevent the curve from becoming worse. A brace will not correct a curved spine. Although the spine may seem to straighten initially, once the child stops wearing the back brace, the correction from it is lost and the curve will come back to its original form.
Interestingly, due to recent innovations for a scoliosis brace, dynamic braces become a promising treatment for every scoliosis patient. Through corrective movements that are enforced by the brace, a patient wearing it can develop the right movements to have smaller curvatures. It also allows the patient to be more physically active and socially confident.
So if one is prescribed, get a scoliosis brace from your chiropractor.
Pivonka Family Chiropractic
1355 S Higley Rd #102
Gilbert, AZ 85296
(480) 892-0022
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