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How do we go about receiving information regarding SpineCor?
Information on SpineCor is available on our web site and you can also call us toll free at 1-800-516-6272 or 1-877-297-0901. However, if you have a specific request for information please contact us giving as much detail as possible and a Scoliosis Specialists representative will contact you within 24 hours.
How does SpineCor compare to other braces?
SpineCor is a dynamic non-rigid brace, meaning it is flexible. This important feature leads to numerous benefits: preserves body movement and promotes corrective growth whilst continuing normal activities of daily living; can be discreetly worn beneath patient's clothing for optimum self-image; increases patient's acceptance for the treatment leading to optimal results; over long-term offers a cost-effective solution to patient; proven stability of treatment results after bracing discontinued, quite unlike rigid bracing; clinical observation shows significant postural improvements; no side effects (muscular atrophy).
Is physical therapy beneficial?
There is at this point in time no evidence to prove scientifically that physical therapy provided in conjunction with SpineCor provides any additional benefit, however, we do advise its use in certain cases. Physical therapy does have the potential to;
- Help mobilize the spine
- Reinforce the corrective movement
- Help with active self correction
- Help consolidate the corrective movement and gain a neuromuscular integration (stabilizing the curve).
- Speed up correction.
All published data on SpineCor relates to treatment using the brace alone 20 hours out of 24 following our published treatment protocols. Whilst we can not say variations to this protocol may not be positive we have no evidence to support such variations at this time.
What is Vestibular testing for and how does it affect treatment?
Vestibular testing is claimed to be useful in the evaluation of balance and central nervous system dysfunction. Because all scoliosis patients have some degree of abnormal posture and the vestibular system plays a part in the control of posture, vestibular tests on scoliosis patients always show abnormality. This abnormal vestibular function always improves naturally with use of the SpineCor brace as the patients posture improves. There is no evidence to suggest that specific vestibular rehabilitation exercises play any useful role. The SpineCorporation do not advise vestibular testing or rehabilitation exercises.
Why might my treatment fail?
SpineCor treatment like any other treatment is not 100% effective even in ideal circumstances treatment will not be effective in 10 – 20% of cases. If you are unlucky enough to be at the highest risk of progression then your curve may still progress despite everyone’s best efforts. Some patients may have or perceive sub-optimal treatment for one or more of the following reasons:
- Failure to establish realistic expectations at the start of treatment.
- Failure to follow the SpineCor Protocols
- Complex atypical case
- Poor Follow-up
- Poor Compliance
- Poor physiological handling
- Loss of confidence in the treatment or doctor
It is important to understand that in most cases treatment failures are attributable to the nature of Idiopathic scoliosis its self and not the doctor, orthotist, patient or parent failing in some way. The broad range of severity and age of onset in Idiopathic scoliosis put some patients at such high risk of progression that therapeutic success is not always possible by conservative non-surgical means.
Studies of different patient populations will show different results: the broader range of patients included in the earliest studies show a success rate of 89% in correcting or preventing progression. This group had more patients treated early (the optimal time for treatment success) and possibly some lower risk patients. The latest SRS defined study criteria (including only the highest progression risk patients and excluding early treatment cases less than 25 degrees) show a lower success rate of 60% in correcting or preventing progression, however, this compares to a 15% success rate for Boston type TLSO. Surgery rates in the SRS studies are 4 times less with SpineCor than Boston type TLSO braces.
How does Scoliosis Specialists accredit SpineCor Treatment Providers?
All SpineCor treatment providers in the United Stated have received theory and practical training in the SpineCor treatment principles and brace fitting, followed by further training/supervision during their first patient treatments.
Accreditation status is only provided to professionals who have demonstrated competency in providing SpineCor treatment. Subsequent to accreditation, all SpineCor treatment providers must use the SpineCor clinical assistant software (SAS V3.6) to guide them in the assessment, classification and brace fitting process.
How many studies have been done to show the long-term effects of the brace?
Studies Clinical Studies are still ongoing and will continue for many years to come. At present, recently published data show excellent results with curve corrections stable at five years after treatment, a phenomena not typical of rigid bracing.
How do we go about finding the closest Scoliosis Specialists Providing the SpineCor System?
If you wish to acquire the SpineCor System in your area, Click here. or call us toll free at 1-877-297-0901 or 1-800-516-6272.
Can the patient put the brace on him/herself?
To begin with, patients need a prescription from a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon in order to obtain approval for treatment. Most of the time, patients are then referred to an orthotist / physical therapist who will set-up the SpineCor brace. Information is then provided to both the patient and his/her family on the use of SpineCor. It is easy for the patient to put it back on once it has been set-up and the bands numbered for fastening sequence and positions.
What is the recommended daily use (in hours)?
The daily recommended use in brace depends on the pathology of the patient, his/her age, progression rate and severity of the scoliosis. In general, it is recommended to wear SpineCor 20 hours per day.
How do we go about washing the brace components?
The maintenance of the brace is explained extensively to patients and their families from the moment that it is first applied. In addition, a maintenance guide explaining the washing and drying process of the brace is also provided to the patients when it is purchased.
Can an adult be fitted with SpineCor?
A new and innovative approach to spinal treatment in adults targets pain relief by providing postural rehabilitation and spinal offloading. Scoliosis in adults is typically the result of either having the disease as a child which has progressed to adulthood, or from the degenerative processes of abnormal aging. The scoliosis can be of any classification ( lumbar, thoracic, thoracolumbar, etc) and can result in chronic pain, leg discomfort, digestive, and lung complications.
Adults with Scoliosis are now being successfully treated with the SpineCor Dynamic Scoliosis Brace. The goal of treatment in not to correct the adult scoliosis, as that is not possible with a brace, but rather to help support the spine and alleviate pain.
The new SpineCor Pain Relief Back Brace is a neuro-muscular-skeletal rehabilitation tool for treating abnormal spinal loading and abnormal posture; it is not a simple back support brace.
A US study is now evaluating the use of SpineCor treatment for adult patients. The treatment objectives for adults are quite different to children but the same principles of postural re-education through dynamic exercise and neuromuscular feed back still apply. Treatment objectives for adults are postural improvement and pain reduction. Whilst postural improvements may lead to very small Cobb angle reductions, true correction of scoliotic curves in adults is not possible and should never be the treatment objective. Early results with adults are very positive, with both postural improvements and pain reduction in all patients to date.
Can the brace be used on an adult to reduce back pain?
Theoretically pain reduction in adults is possible, early treatment results do seem to support the hypothesis.
