Around the world, scoliosis is estimated to affect approximately 5% of young people (1-5) and up to 68% of over 60s (6-7). Treatment of the condition has had a long and varied history. Over the years, treatment options have been developed to manage and treat scoliosis in both children and adults. One of the most effective non-surgical treatments for scoliosis involves wear of a scoliosis brace, usually to prevent further progression of the spinal curvature.
Where did scoliosis bracing originate?
The history of scoliosis treatment dates back to ancient times, with the first references to spinal deformities made in ancient Greek and Egyptian medical texts. However, it wasn’t until the 16th century that the first recorded description of a spinal brace for the treatment of scoliosis was made by Ambroise Paré, a French surgeon. Paré’s brace was made of metal and leather and applied pressure to the deformity to straighten the spine.
In the early 20th century, the Milwaukee brace was developed by Blount and Schmidt in the United States. The Milwaukee brace was a full-torso brace made of metal and leather that applied pressure to different parts of the torso. Although it prevented further progression of scoliosis, it was uncomfortable and cumbersome to wear.
Modern scoliosis braces
Scoliosis braces are still used today to treat and manage scoliosis, but with advances in modern technology they have developed greatly.
While the first scoliosis brace was invented in the 16th century, brace design has evolved to incorporate more effective and comfortable designs. Developments in 3D body scanning and use of computer aided design and manufacture mean that custom designed braces can be created based on a patient’s specific measurements and treatment goals. It also means that each brace is more comfortable for the patient to wear.
Today, bracing is recognized as one of the key treatments in treating adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, especially when combined with scoliosis-specific exercises delivered by a qualified health professional. Additionally, for adults with scoliosis, bracing can make a big difference to quality of life.
If you’re considering scoliosis bracing as a treatment option for yourself or loved one, it’s important to investigate all the available options.
Developed in 2011,
ScoliBrace was invented to create a better conservative way to successfully treat patients with scoliosis. It is available worldwide and is a truly custom 3D scoliosis brace used to treat scoliosis in children, adolescents and adults. If you have questions or would like to speak to a certified provider of ScoliBrace,
find a clinic near you
References
1. Weinstein S, Dolan, LA., Cheng, JC., Danielsson, A., Morcuende, JA. (2008) Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Lancet 371:1527-1537
2. Weinstein S, Zavala DC., Ponseti IV. (1983) Idiopathic scoliosis: long-term follow-up and prognosis in untreated patients. . Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Am 63:702-712
3. Weinstein S (1986) Idiopathic scoliosis. Natural history. . Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 11:780-783
4. Weinstein S, Dolan, L, Spratt, K., Peterson, K., Spoonamore, M., and Ponseti, I. (2003) Health and function of patients with untreated idiopathic scoliosis: A 50-year natural history study. JAMA 289:559-567. doi: doi:10.1001/jama.289.5.559
5. Asher MA, Burton DC (2006) Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Natural history and long term treatment effects. Scoliosis 1:2-2. doi: 10.1186/1748-7161-1-2
6. McAviney J, Roberts C, Sullivan B, Alevras AJ, Graham PL, Brown BT. The prevalence of adult de novo scoliosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Spine J. 2020 Dec;29(12):2960-2969. doi: 10.1007/s00586-020-06453-0. Epub 2020 May 22. PMID: 32440771.
7. Schwab F, Dubey A, Gamez L, El Fegoun AB, Hwang K, Pagala M, Farcy JP (2005) Adult scoliosis: prevalence, SF-36, and nutritional parameters in an elderly volunteer population. Spine 30(9):1082–1
