Passive and active mechanisms of correction of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis with a rigid brace

Abstract

Contemporary bracing developed numerous novel technical solutions to most of main aspects of the correction of structural progressive idiopathic scoliosis. This paper presents a short review on principal biomechanical rules for the three dimensional scoliosis correction. Apart from the tissue transfer, which is a known passive mechanism of rigid bracing, the other passive mechanisms are described, containing the "cherry stone" distraction effect, the thoracic derotation and the bending. A demanding technical construction of the orthosis enables active mechanisms to develop: the corrective factor of the vertebral growth, hypercorrection-oriented trunk movements and respiration, as well as the anti-gravitational mechanism, by which postural reflexes maintain the curve correction, proximally and distally out of the limits of the brace. We believe that systematic investigations unfolded in the area of neurophysiological aspects of postural control of the spinal balance will continuously improve the fascinating capabilities of the active scoliosis autocorrrection assisted by the brace.