SpineCor is the amazing scoliosis brace that has changed the face of scoliosis treatment forever by keeping kids (and now adults) away from scoliosis surgery through its revolutionary dynamic approach. Unlike a traditional rigid scoliosis brace made of a hard plastic jacket that restricts movement the way a plaster cast does, the elastic components of this dynamic brace are designed to stretch when the body bends.
Thus SpineCor is really an “un-brace” as it encourages movement so is like being in physiotherapy for 24/7. Because it moves with the patient it eliminates the problems associated with a hard scoliosis brace such as decreased body awareness, lack of muscle control and resultant atrophy of related spinal muscles due to immobilization of the torso.
Because rigid bracing is so difficult to endure many doctors have delayed recommendations for bracing until the curves progressed beyond a 25 degrees. Now, with the SpineCor scoliosis brace doctors can intervene earlier when the problem is most correctable. This is far easier on the patient and has better results.
This revolutionary scientific design of a dynamic flexible brace was initially developed by a team of orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Charles Hilaire Rivard and Dr. Christine Coillard, orthopedic of St. Justine’s Hospital in Montreal for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in children.
Dynamic Scoliosis Brace
Since that time SpineCor has been adapted to also treat adults with scoliosis with incredible results.
The brilliance of this brace lies in the dynamic design of that although it moves with the body while still applying corrective forces three dimensionally to the body where they are needed while still allowing the patient freedom of movement. The dynamic brace consists of corrective and adjustable elastic bands which are interconnected to three static components that create a modular system. This allows physicians to customize treatment and it can be worn beneath the patients clothing without anyone knowing you are even wearing a scoliosis brace at all.
Unlike traditional, cast like, rigid braces, SpineCor allows for the patient to be treated without interfering with or preventing their normal daily activities. This innovative approach also allows the patient to participate in a dynamic range of activities, like Schroth exercises and active release therapy, that also work to correct the curvatures.
The dynamic tension provided by the elastic bands of the brace help improve muscle recruitment patterns in specific, corrective directions with the help of the body’s natural reflexes, which can help to reduce the scoliosis. For this reason it is crucial that the doctors who fit the brace be knowledgeable and highly experienced in fitting the scoliosis brace properly. Our doctors are the most experienced providers of the SpineCor brace in the world, having successfully fit hundreds of children and adults.
The dynamic tensions acts to help create appropriate movement patterns, rather than inhibit them as rigid braces do. Recruitment and control of specific muscles is key in correcting the curvatures of the spine. By using SpineCor scoliosis brace, both children and adults experience postural correction, which enables them to re-train their muscles without a cumbersome and restrictive appliance. Wearing the brace actually allows for the muscles to be corrected like they are in physiotherapy 24/7.
The elastic bands provide moderate tension that allows for repetitive amplification of the corrective movement as the patient undertakes everyday activities. This results in a progressive curve reduction.
Compared to a rigid scoliosis brace, SpineCor also improves the quality of of a patients social life. Since it can be comfortably worn and hidden under cloths it allows a patient to discretely treat their scoliosis while being able to work and play without being obtrusive or embarrassing.
When being fitted for the brace the patient’s initial curvatures are measured and recorded. This is used for fitting the brace and tracking their progress of the improvement of their curves over time.
A rigid scoliosis brace merely applies passive forces to the torso much like a body cast would does causing atrophy of the muscles of the spine that are not allowed to be used. Because of the immobilization causes weakness of the related spinal muscles the body frequently worsens the curves as the body falls further into abnormally rotated pattern of the scoliosis.
Instead of working against the body, the SpineCor brace works with it by placing dynamic forces on the spine to help re-educate the musculature. This allows for a gradual, more natural correction of the curves over time.
Unlike hard bracing of the past, this breakthrough approach looks at patients, not as statues, but as functioning human beings who’s bodies are designed to be constant movement machines. What is amazing with this revolutionary approach is that curves can be corrected with relatively minimal forces being applied by the elastic bands of the brace while still allowing freedom of movement. While the rigid bracing uses large forces to constrain and often traumatizing the body by causing lesions on the skin. Dynamic bracing allows for treatment of a much wider array of curvatures than had been able to treated before with static braces.
Now, rather than just “watch and waiting” for the curves to progressively worsen, the earlier this treatment is started the better the chances are for correction. The fundamental shift in thinking between the rigid brace and a dynamic brace is that with the dynamic brace you are using a more natural approach that allows the spine to help correct itself with dynamic movements rather than the traditional, antiquated way of the rigid brace that placed an outside stress on the body to force it into correction.
The flexibility of the dynamic brace and its ability to be easily concealed by clothing is more easily accepted by patients. They can play with their friends without being perceived as being different, something that is very important in the psyche of an adolescent.
The flexibility of the SpineCor scoliosis brace is also important to active adults.
The SpineCor scoliosis brace meets the needs of all patients (children and adults) who needs to stay active to be healthy by SpineCor is much less intrusive and painful than the previous by rigid braces.
There is no need to take away a child’s sporting activities or alter their everyday life. As a result the compliance with treatment goes up providing a better long term outcome.