Should Adults With Scoliosis Use the Spinecor Brace?

Although still considered investigational, the answer seems to be, Yes! in 2003 Dr. Gary Deutchman fitted the first adult patient with the Spinecor Brace. Although originally developed for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment, its clinical uses for adults, kyphosis and non-idiopathic scoliosis are encouraging. Adults are routinely referred for treatment to our New York, Buffalo, Chicago, Atlanta, Roswell (GA), Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Inland Empire (CA) offices. Since the first adult fitting, Drs. Deutchman and Lamantia has fitted over 600 adult patients with all types of curvatures.

Adults often experience pain relief immediately when the brace if fitted appropriately. Due to the nature of the adult spine, different brace configurations were developed to successfully manage adult patients. Dr. Deutchman is unmatched in his expertise in this area.

Studies show adult scoliosis to be potentially progressive in nature and to be a major contributor to chronic pain, radiculopathy and neurogenic claudication. Due to the abnormal posture and muscle recruitment patterns associated with adult scoliosis, adult programs are often supported with specialized physiotherapy programs.

Unlike a rigid brace, Spinecor uses a rotational 3D “Corrective Movement” which has been shown to be effective in reducing scoliosis curvatures in adolescents. Spinecor is a dynamic system of elastic bands which uses gentle forces to change posture and movement patterns over time. It can easily be worn under the clothes, during exercise and at work.

Adult scoliosis management differs from adolescent treatments due to the long standing dysfunction of the motion segments of the spine and associated ligament degeneration. This may lead to subluxation (misalignment of the vertebra) and further degenerative change to both bone and soft tissues. Often, adult scoliosis treatment can be successful if the patient can tolerate the brace. Careful evaluation and fitting procedures are necessary to ensure adults do not experience exacerbations of pain and nerve irritation. Adults can achieve curvature reduction despite reaching maximal bone maturity. Due to the fact that spinal deformities associated with scoliosis are not entirely from bone deformity, but include influences from ligament, disc and muscle function. Our adult patients routinely respond in our program which may include postural retraining, muscle integration therapy, myofascial release techniques, Whole Body Vibration and vestibular rehabilitation. 

Results vary between individuals. Chiropractic management is recommended when subluxations are detected. For more information contact one of our doctors.

-References

Natural history of the aging spine., Benoist M, Eur Spine J. 2003 Oct;12 Suppl 2:S86-9. Epub 2003 Sep 05. Orthopaedic Surgery Unit, Department of Rheumatology, Hopital Beaujon, 100 Bd du Gal Leclerc, 92110, Clichy, France. deuxmice@aol.com

Spinal mobility and EMG activity in idiopathic scoliosis through dynamic lateral bending tests. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2002;91:130-4.,Ciolofan OC, Aubin CE, Mathieu PA, Beausejour M, Feipel V, Labelle H. Sainte-Justine Hospital, 3175 Cote Ste-Catherine Rd, Montreal, H3T 1C5, Canada.

Biomechanical factors affecting progression of structural scoliotic curves of the spine. Lupparelli S, Pola E, Pitta L, Mazza O, De Santis V, Aulisa L. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2002;91:81-5
Clin. Orthop. Pol. A. Gemelli - Universit_ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, ITALY.

Degeneration of the human lumbar spine ligaments. An ultrastructural study. Yahia H, Drouin G, Maurais G, Garzon S, Rivard CH.Biomedical Engineering Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Canada. Pathol Res Pract. 1989 Apr; 184(4): 369-75.

Natural history of the aging spine., Benoist M, Eur Spine J. 2003 Oct;12 Suppl 2:S86-9. Epub 2003 Sep 05. Orthopaedic Surgery Unit, Department of Rheumatology, Hopital Beaujon, 100 Bd du Gal Leclerc, 92110, Clichy, France. deuxmice@aol.com

Vestibular mechanisms involved in idiopathic scoliosis, Arch Ital Biol. 2002 Jan;140(1):67-80.
Manzoni D, Miele F.Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica, Universita di Pisa, Via S. Zeno 31, I-56127 Pisa, Italy.