Scoliosis is a disease that causes a deformity of the spine and affects more people than you might imagine. Scoliosis is a disease often caught or spotted in early childhood during routine physical exams. Scoliosis, when not treated, can lead to permanent deformity of the spine and major issues with mobility and quality of life later on.
Are There Certain Things I Should Expect When I Start Wearing a Scoliosis Brace?
There are a few things that you should expect when you start to wear a scoliosis brace or start a bracing journey. The first is the time that you are going to be wearing the brace. Your provider will not ask you to wear your brace constantly to start. The reason for this is that if you have never worn a brace before, it can be very painful and can cause soreness to start wearing it continually.
Your provider will have you wear your brace for about one or two hour increments for a total of around six to eight hours a day. This will help you get used to the brace, it will help you get a feel for what it feels like to wear it, and it will help you start to build up a tolerance of the brace. You will gradually work your way up to being able to wear the brace for the full amount of time.
Another thing to keep in mind is how to care for your brace. Braces need to be cleaned and wiped down to prevent mold and bacteria growth, you may have to adjust the straps to make sure it fits properly, and you will have to address things like damage if something happens to your brace.
What Will Happen When I Start Wearing My Scoliosis Brace?
The first thing you might notice when you start wearing your brace is that you may be sore for the first few days until your body starts getting used to it. You may also notice that it is hard to get used to the brace and to not being able to move as freely when you wear it.
You are not going to notice a huge difference as soon as you wear the brace in terms of your scoliosis or in terms of the straightness of your back, the brace is to support a growing spine, so you may not see changes for a long time. Your doctor will continue to monitor your back and spine as it grows, adjust the brace, and even make a new brace as needed.