New Horizons Scoliosis Treatment Plan
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that affects children during adolescent growth periods. It can affect any child, although girls tend to experience it more often. In most cases the cause is unknown.
Scoliosis is usually painless, and a child often does not know he/she has it until it is detected by the school nurse, a doctor, or their parents. After initial detection, the child should see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in scoliosis to confirm an official diagnosis. Diagnosis is usually made by the doctor after X-Rays have been taken to indicate the location of the curve apex, the angle of curvature (Cobb angle), and the skeletal maturity (Risser score). These results help the doctor determine the best possible treatment, which often includes a scoliosis brace.
Bracing
If a scoliosis brace has been prescribed, the next step is to meet with a New Horizons specialist who will work with the patient to design a brace that not only treats the child’s scoliosis effectively, but also reflects their unique personality.
Scoliosis bracing is often considered in terms of how often the brace is worn. In milder cases, the referring physician may recommend night-time only bracing. Some of the more common nighttime braces such as the Providence Brace, provide more extreme positioning than those options intended for use throughout the day.
More commonly, scoliosis braces are prescribed for full-time use. Frequently prescribed full-time orthoses included the Day-Pro and the Boston Brace. Your doctor will decide how many hours per day the brace should be worn.
Education
Your orthotist is ready to listen, answer your questions, and provide verbal and written information to help you along your journey. Come to your appointments with any questions you would like answered.
You may want to ask:
- How will I be measured for my brace?
- How long will it take to get my brace after I am measured?
- How long will I have to wear it each day?
- What activities can I still do? What should I not do?
- Do I wear my brace during these activities?
- What clothes should I wear over and under my brace?
- How do I contact you if I have any questions?
Monitoring
The New Horizons Treatment Program includes weekly visits monitoring and perfecting the correction. They will work closely with your doctor to ensure the proper amount of correction is in place to insure a positive outcome.
Your doctor can set wear-time targets and download wear reports to help make sure they are adjusting your wear schedule as needed.
New Horizons Spinal Solutions
Custom and Off the Shelf Bracing Options
Spinal orthoses, which include neck braces and back braces, are used to support, and stabilize areas of the body from the jaw to the lower back, including the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. These types of orthoses may be used postoperatively to promote proper and safe healing, to treat a chronic disease or condition such as arthritis or used to treat an injury like whiplash.
The New Horizons team has extensive experience in the treatment of the spine. If the child has been diagnosed with scoliosis, learn more about our expertise in pediatric scoliosis.
Uses of Spinal Orthoses
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Realign the Spine
Incorrect alignment of the spinal column can compromise the spinal cord and existing nerve roots, causing pain, weakness, or even paralysis. An orthopedic spinal brace can realign and support the spine, aiding in the healing process, slowing the progression of conditions such as osteoarthritis and helping preserve muscular and sensory functions.
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Immobilize the Spine
Controlling the movement of the spine is extremely important in treating injured or damaged areas. The use of an orthopedic spinal brace to immobilize the spine encourages fractures to heal, prevents progression of disease or deformity, and provides overall support of the body.
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Support Weakened Areas of the Spine
To ensure maximum stability of the spinal column during the healing process, spinal orthotic devices are designed to fit snuggly, providing maximum support to the entire torso, including the pelvis. The devices often incorporate rigid components that assume the function of damaged bones and ligaments.
Designing a Custom Spinal Orthosis
Optimal treatment outcomes are dependent upon an optimal fit; therefore, spinal orthoses are often custommade based on a model of the individual’s body. We create these models using the spinal tech 3D app with a series of measurements. This quick, painless scan creates a digital image that can supplement the patient’s medical record and can be used to provide a digital snapshot of the recovery process.
