For many people, scoliosis is a ‘new’ problem – you may not even have heard of it before. The amount of information available on the internet is bewildering, and finding facts which are relevant and comprehensible can often lead to confusion and misunderstanding.
Firstly, regardless of what you read on the internet, scoliosis is NOT curable. The curve can often be controlled, and in a small number of cases, improvements have been recorded.
There are a number of organisations in the UK which offer support and guidance:
There are also local groups such as SWS-Cymru which are regional – we can add yours here if you let us know
A useful source of scientific information is The Scoliosis and Spinal Disorders Journal
RSC braces are made by Ortholutions and there is plenty of information and guidance on their website
Specialist Therapy can be provided by:
We are currently updating our therapy contacts – please call to discuss your needs
Research and case studies
– We have picked out a few readable pieces here – the emphasis is on studies involving RSC braces but there are some which are more general too
Great work in South Africa with some excellent results
The Rigo System of Classification
The early evolution of the RSC brace
The RSC brace in a clinical situation
Good evidence from 2012, and the braces have improved since then
Treatment of adults is possible too
Useful study about quality of life when bracing is used
IMPORTANT!!! Wearing your brace full time really works – here’s the evidence
And more about the effects of full-time wear
The table below is a summary of when and how to treat AIS. It looks somewhat intimidating, and has been extracted from a paper published by SOSORT, and this is a somewhat simplified version to give an overview of the treatment.
Click here to download a PDF: SOSORT-guidelines
Key:Ob = Observe (frequency in months), SSB = Soft Shell Bracing, PTRB = Part Time Rigid Bracing, FTRB = Full Time Rigid Bracing, PSE = Physiotherapeutic Specific Exercises, Su = Surgery
Cobb degrees |
0-10 + hump |
11-15 |
16-20 |
21-25 |
26-30 |
31-35 |
36-40 |
41-45 |
46-50 |
Over 50 |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Infantile |
Min |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob3 |
SSB |
SSB |
SSB |
SSB |
SSB |
PTRB |
FTRB |
|
Max |
Ob3 |
Ob3 |
PTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Juvenile |
Min |
Ob3 |
Ob3 |
Ob3 |
SSB |
SSB |
SSB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
FTRB |
|
Max |
PSE |
PSE |
PTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Adolescent |
Risser 0 |
Min |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob3 |
PSE |
PSE |
SSB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
FTRB |
Max |
Ob3 |
PSE |
PTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Risser 1 |
Min |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob3 |
PSE |
PSE |
SSB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
FTRB |
|
Max |
Ob3 |
PSE |
PTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Risser 2 |
Min |
Ob8 |
Ob6 |
Ob3 |
PSE |
PSE |
SSB |
SSB |
SSB |
SSB |
FTRB |
|
Max |
Ob6 |
PSE |
PTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Risser 3 |
Min |
Ob12 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
PSE |
SSB |
SSB |
SSB |
SSB |
FTRB |
|
Max |
Ob6 |
PSE |
PTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Risser 4 |
Min |
No |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
SSB |
FTRB |
|
Max |
Ob12 |
PSE |
PTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Risser 4-5 |
Min |
No |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
SSB |
FTRB |
|
Max |
Ob12 |
PSE |
PTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
FTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Adult |
No pain |
Min |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Max |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
||
Chronic Pain |
Min |
No |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
|
Max |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
Su |
Su |
Su |
Su |
Su |
||
Elderly |
No pain |
Min |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Max |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob12 |
Ob6 |
Ob6 |
||
Chronic Pain |
Min |
No |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
|
Max |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
Su |
Su |
||
Decompensation |
Min |
No |
No |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
PSE |
|
Max |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
PTRB |
Su |
Su |