Adjusting to Life With a Scoliosis Brace

Scoliosis bracing is a common treatment for scoliosis, and it’s one that we offer here at Spine Group Beverly Hills. If your child wears a scoliosis brace, Dr. John Regan monitors your child every six months to measure progress and assess how well the brace is working to correct the curvature of your child’s spine. 

If your child needs to wear a scoliosis brace, you might wonder how life for you or your child might change. 

Here’s what you need to know.

Identify which type of brace your child needs

There are many different types of braces used for scoliosis bracing, and the type of brace determines how your child wears it. Examples of braces include:

• Wilmington brace, which closes in the front
• Boston brace, which closes in the back
• Rigo-Cheneau brace
• Charleston bending brace, which is worn only at night
• SpineCor, which is flexible but not as effective as the harder braces

How long your child wears the brace depends on many factors, but it can range anywhere from 12-20 hours. Before you head home with a scoliosis brace, Dr. Regan reviews the type of brace, how to care for it, how long your child must wear it, et. 

Adjusting to wearing a brace

If your child is prescribed a scoliosis brace, it’s important to help your child adjust to this change. Hard braces will impact your child’s movement and must be worn for several hours each day. In order for bracing to work, you must remain dedicated to the process. One of the best things you can do to help your child adjust is to prepare him or her well ahead of time. Explain what a brace is, how it works, and why it must be worn for several hours each day. Giving your child several days to prepare can reduce the shock or surprise of starting a new treatment. 

Wearing a hard brace can pose a few issues, but with the proper preparation, you can avoid these potential issues. Braces are designed to fit snugly, but that can lead to sores, redness, or blisters. To prevent irritation, make sure your child wears a snug-fighting, thin, moisture-wicking shirt under the brace. To prevent fungal rashes from sweat, follow all instructions for cleaning the brace. 

Tip: If your child seems apprehensive about the brace, allow him or her to select a few new shirts to wear under the brace. Sometimes even a small decision, such as choosing the color of the shirts, can help your child hold on to a sense of control.

What to do if your child doesn’t want to wear a brace

However, the most common issue is a child refusing to wear the brace. If your child doesn’t want to wear his or her brace, keep these tips in mind:

• Remind your child about the importance of wearing the brace, and if possible, show pictures or illustrations of how the brace is positively affecting his or her spine
• Encourage your child to share any frustrations they have and let them know you are there to support and help in any way possible
• Be a cheerleader and support system 一 simply letting your child know how proud you are of them can make a big difference in your child’s mindset regarding the brace
• Acknowledge the temporary inconvenience and allow for extra time getting ready each morning
• Encourage other family members to offer support

Additionally, your child may have questions about the brace. During your routine appointments to monitor treatment progress, encourage your child to ask questions. Dr. Regan is always happy to chat with his littlest patients!

Questions about bracing? If your child’s brace seems too tight, or if he or she develops redness that won’t go away or a rash, let us know. Get in touch by calling our Beverly Hills or Santa Monica, California office today.