Objective assessment of brace wear times and physical activities in two patients with scoliosis

Müller Carsten, Winter Corinna, Klein Dieter, Fuchs Katharina, Schmidt Carolin, Schulte Tobias, Bullmann Viola, Rosenbaum Dieter

Abstract

Conservative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis consists of therapeutic exercise and the application of braces. The effectiveness of bracing mainly depends on patient compliance, which can be determined by means of temperature sensors. This methodological paper describes the feasibility of objectively determining compliance and daily physical activities before and during conservative scoliosis treatment, being a relevant indicator for quality of life in children and adolescents. One patient with low compliance (61.4±24.9%) reduced her activity level during bracing by 50.1%, whereas another patient with a satisfactory compliance (85.7±19.5%) increased her daily activity level by 33.7% during conservative treatment.