A prospective study was designed to determine whether the combined use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and dynamic bracing was more effective than use of either alone in reducing upper-extremity spasticity in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Twenty-four patients (12 males, 12 females; mean age 8y 7mo [SD 4y 2mo]; age range 3-18y) diagnosed with spastic hemiplegic ...

BACKGROUND The aim of our study is to evaluate the ability of a pre- fabricated humeral bracing system in providing sufficient stability to fracture union and carry out a cost analysis comparing bracing versus surgical fixation for these fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS A review of humeral shaft fractures treated with a pre-fabricated humeral bracing system was undertaken. RESULTS 20 humeral...

BACKGROUND Many years of bracing represent a burden to the patients. Early weaning may be the result of poor compliance, but may also be planned in patients with a long expected treatment time and a reduced stable primary curve during bracing. The aim of the present cohort study was to compare curve size, health related quality of life and surgical rates at long-term follow-up after ordinary br...

This paper investigates the applicabilty of an innovative bracing, called Articulated Quadrilateral (AQ) bracing system, which uses shape memory alloys (SMAs), for retroffiting low-rise to high-rise vulnerable SMFRs against strong ground motions. The paper investigates brace fundamental engineering characteristics, design of the system and also configuration of the brace (the proportion of SMA ...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hollowing and bracing exercises on cross-sectional areas of abdominal muscles. [Subjects] Thirty healthy female adults participated in this study. The exclusion criteria were orthopedic or neurologic diseases. [Methods] The subjects of this study were assigned randomly to one of two groups, each with 15 people. Each group perform...

BACKGROUND Scoliotic curves do not necessarily stop progressing at skeletal maturity. The factors that influence curve behavior following bracing are not fully determined. Our objectives were to evaluate the loss of the scoliotic curve correction in a cohort of patients treated with bracing during adolescence and to compare the outcomes of 18 versus 23 h of bracing at a mean of 25 years post br...

BACKGROUND Bracing has been shown to decrease significantly the progression of high-risk curves to the threshold for surgery in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), but the treatment failure rate remains high. There is evidence to suggest that Schroth scoliosis-specific exercises can slow progression in mild scoliosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Schrot...

The Ponseti method for the management of idiopathic clubfoot has recently experienced a rise in popularity, with several centers reporting excellent outcomes. The challenge in achieving a successful outcome with this method lies not in correcting deformity but in preventing relapse. The most common cause of relapse is failure to adhere to the prescribed postcorrective bracing regimen. Socioecon...

Abstract:   Previous research on bracing members show that the ductility of bracing members is compromised due to the buckling phenomena. Therefore, many researchers have tried to use special considerations to increase the fracture life of bracing members. Some of these recommendations such as increasing the slenderness ratio, using lower width to thickness ratio, increasing the out-of-p...

Background A recently published NIH-funded study named “Bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Trial” (BrAIST) affirmed the efficacy of bracing for moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and reduced surgical recommendations in braced patients. The implications of this study are numerous. BrAIST affirms the value of bracing, but also confirms the importance of wear time, and points t...