Do the night-time only braces work as well as the daytime braces for scoliosis?
There are a wide variety of braces used to treat scoliosis or curvature of the spine. Studies show that the type and location of the curve(s) dictates which kind of brace to use. When braces were first used to treat scoliosis, the Milwaukee brace was worn 23 hours a day. This type of brace goes from neck to sacrum with metal uprights to hold the body straight. It has a pelvic girdle, two posterior uprights, one anterior upright, and a ring around the base of the skull that also supports the lower jaw. It was originally made of leather and metal. It has been revised now and is constructed out of rigid plastic with metal uprights. Straps attached to the frame are used to apply corrective forces. A brace that starts under the arm and does not include the neck can be used for curves lower down in the thoracic spine. This type of brace is called a thoracolumbosacral orthosis or TLSO. Both the Milwaukee and the TLSO types of braces are usually worn 22 hours each day. They are removed only fo
