Spinal orthoses and seating

The use of spinal orthoses in the treatment and control of scoliosis has been a common practise among orthopaedic surgeons worldwide. In time, there have been improvements in the design and manufacturing technique of these orthoses. However, it appears that designers and prescribers are not thoroughly considering the needs of those individuals who spend a significant amount of time in a seated posture. The attempt to fit the conventional spinal orthoses to seated individuals has usually been by cutting the trim-lines and eliminating the annoying edges of the orthosis. Studies have shown that the correct application of pads and trim-lines in spinal orthoses are important factors in achieving maximum effectiveness. In order to design and manufacture an effective spinal orthosis for an individual sitting in a wheelchair the orthotist must carefully consider the individual's seated posture, body alignment and change of physique. The spinal orthosis must not only provide as much support to a seated individual's spinal column as possible, it must also be minimally intrusive to the individual's appearance. This paper discusses the facts and considerations in the design and manufacturing such an orthosis.

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