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There’s no way around it: Kids who need to wear a scoliosis brace need to wear it a lot and for a long time.

Bracing is intended to halt the progression of a spinal curve while a child is still growing. A scoliosis brace typically doesn’t straighten a curve completely, but wearing a brace as directed is very effective at controlling the curve. This can prevent or delay the need for spinal surgery.

Depending on the severity, type of curve and the child’s age, a brace may be worn for 16 to 23 hours a day or just at night for eight to 10 hours. To control scoliosis, a brace is worn until a child reaches skeletal maturity — around age 15 for girls and 16 for boys.

When discussing scoliosis treatment options, speak openly with the specialists at Norton Children’s Leatherman Spine about your child’s lifestyle, including sports and other activities. They will help you and your child find a brace and schedule that minimizes disruption to the child’s activities.

“Braces have advanced to less-bulky, custom-fitted structures that easily can be concealed under clothing,” said Kelly A. Jenkins, M.D., a pediatric spine surgeon with Norton Children’s Leatherman Spine. “This often helps patients feel more comfortable wearing the brace. This is important, as we know that increased compliance in the brace improves the effectiveness of the brace.”

Without bracing, a scoliosis curve can become more pronounced, causing worsening deformity, chronic pain and breathing difficulty. Scoliosis surgery may be needed to stop the progression of the curve.

Scoliosis bracing is designed to put pressure on the spinal curvature to put the spine in a straighter position while the patient grows. This is a frequent treatment to address adolescent idiopathic scoliosis – a curve that becomes apparent during or after puberty with no known cause.

Most rigid braces are made of lightweight hard plastic and fit around the torso from below the armpits to just below the waist. There are many styles of braces. The right brace type for your child will depend on your child’s skeletal maturity and the severity of the scoliosis curve.

Common types of braces

The Boston brace is a widely used device that applies pressure to three specific points along the spine to counter sideways curves to encourage a straighter spine as it grows. Scoliosis-specific exercises may accompany the bracing to improve the straightening and maintain spinal flexibility.

The Providence brace is a nighttime brace intended to be worn while the patient is sleeping. This brace applies lateral and rotational force on the spine to achieve correction while in the brace.

Supporting your child during brace treatment

Here are some tips to help a child adapt to life with a scoliosis brace:

• Encourage open communication with healthcare providers to clarify any doubts about the merits of a brace. Make sure the child understands the condition and the importance of brace treatment.
• If the teenager is self-conscious about the brace, help them find clothing styles, such as layered outfits or looser garments, that help conceal it. Wearing a scoliosis brace at school can be awkward for self-conscious adolescents, so hiding the brace with clothing can help. Keep in mind that being open with friends and family about the need for the brace and its challenges can help ease their worries.
• The custom-made brace will be fitted by an orthotist. Make the child part of the decision-making process and work with the orthotist to ensure a good fit.
• Celebrate small milestones as treatment progresses. This can help maintain motivation and adherence to the brace-wearing schedule.
• Scoliosis support groups, either online or in-person: Connecting with other brace wearers can provide emotional support, foster sharing of practical tips and improve brace compliance.
• Monitor emotional well-being and encourage an open dialog with your pediatrician to talk about any anxiety or self-esteem issues related to scoliosis or brace treatment.

Sometimes, physical therapy is used alongside bracing as a scoliosis treatment. The Schroth method uses customized scoliosis-specific exercises that can address both the lateral curve and any spinal twist or rotation in the spinal column. The aim is to strengthen muscles in specific areas, so they supplement or even take the place of a brace.

Initially, children meet one-on-one with a therapist once a week for three to four months or longer. With progress, visits can drop to twice a month, and then once a month until skeletal maturity at around age 16. This treatment includes 20 to 30 minutes of daily home exercises.

If your child is recommended a brace for their scoliosis, the specialists at Norton Children’s Leatherman Spine are happy to help put you and your child at ease throughout the process.