Scoliosis Bracing and Quality of Life
Quality of life is defined as the degree to which an individual is healthy, comfortable, and able to participate in or enjoy life events.
The impact of spinal deformities on an individual’s well-being is very well known. Studies carried out to date show that scoliosis can be detrimental to the quality of life and that it can affect psychosocial functioning, self-esteem, vital energy and can disturb the perception of physical health.
In healthcare, quality of life is an important consideration, and it is used to assess the impact of a treatment on a patient’s general well-being including physical, emotional and social dimensions.
Bracing can affect the quality of life in scoliosis patients
Health-related quality of life issues are important aspects to be considered in the treatment of scoliosis patients, both in the case of children and adults.
How scoliosis treatment affects quality of life is assessed using specific questionnaires that patients complete indicating how treatment affects their body image, spinal mobility, level of activity, pain, sleep quality or social and mental well-being, as well as satisfaction with the treatment received.
The impact of surgical treatment on quality of life was first investigated so formal questionnaires were developed for this purpose. However, brace treatment in scoliosis can be a stressful experience that can also affect the quality of life of patients with scoliosis.
Compliance with bracing (whether patients use the brace for the indicated hours) has been associated with quality of life. The negative impact that braces can have on a patient’s quality of life is the reason for poor treatment adherence in a high percentage of patients.
Compliance with a bracing protocol is likely to be dependent upon a patients’ physical, emotional and social well-being.
Brace treatment compliance is of major importance and is associated with final results. It is estimated that the higher the treatment compliance, the better the treatment results.
It is important to establish whether bracing programmes are capable of addressing personal, social and psychological issues, improving quality of life and promoting compliance.
Choosing the most appropriate brace
Understanding the impact of scoliosis brace treatment on quality of life and the patient’s emotional stress can be very useful when choosing the most appropriate brace, thus improving patient’s treatment compliance.
Did you know that there are some 154 braces for scoliosis treatment!?
However, only some braces apply all of the principles required to at least control curve progression and have shown positive clinical outcomes.
It is interesting to note that not all braces have the same impact on a patient’s quality of life so a good strategy for deciding which brace to use may be based not only on the brace efficacy but also on the impact of the brace on a patient’s quality of life.
Considering those braces that show similar treatment effectiveness, taking into account the correct indication based on the severity of the curve and the curve pattern, it seems reasonable to recommend the use of the brace with the lowest impact on the patient’s quality of life to improve the compliance with the brace treatment.
Among these brace options, the flexible dynamic SpineCor braces have shown to be an effective treatment for Idiopathic Scoliosis, preserving normal movements of the body and growth and permit normal daily activities and sport. They also improve the patient’s comfort, since the braces allow the patient to keep cool with minimal irritation, and are easily worn underneath the patient’s regular clothing for optimal cosmetic appearance. As a result, they improve patient’s self-image and increase treatment compliance
Despite their full-time use, SpineCor braces appear to be well-tolerated by patients reducing the emotional impact that brace treatment produces in scoliosis patients.
The SpineCorporation Limited
Millennium House | Peak Business Park
Foxwood Road | Chesterfield | S41 9RF
The SpineCorporation Limited
Millennium House | Peak Business Park
Foxwood Road | Chesterfield | S41 9RF