Support Brace for Scoliosis

[Physiobase]

Hi there fellow PT's. I have an elderly lady with severe scoliosis who definitely had benefits from a lumbar/waist support brace. The type is a cotton and neoprene with velcro fastening and then two additional velcro straps to make is even tighter. There is no doubt this assists her walking and fatigue.

The problem is when she sits. The increased intra-abdominal pressure can only be released if she undoes the outer straps. This is most inconvenient for someone wearing a dress at a formal function. HAs anyone seen a solution for such a problem. She also has rather arthritic hands making the application of the brace a little awkward. thanks in advance 8o

[somasimple]

Hi,

You're at the middle of the bridge:
If you loose the brace then the patient will have problems with her hands while re-tighten the brace.
If she does nothing, she can't sit.

The brutal solution is avoid sitting.
I had a such case and a solution for transcient sitting is to use tall sits that enable a "comfortable" position for meals and reading but increases unfortunately leg fatigue.

The second way is to use a special sit where hip flexion is reduced (exists for PTs).