Effectiveness of orthoses for treatment in patients with spinal pain

Abstract

Spinal pain is a common patient complaint in clinical practice. Conservative treatment methods include oral medication, physical therapy, injections, and spinal orthoses. The clinical application of orthoses is debated because of potential complications associated with long-term use, such as muscle weakness and joint contracture. We reviewed the orthoses most frequently used to manage spinal pain. We review the use of soft cervical and Philadelphia collars, lumbosacral corsets, and thoracolumbosacral orthosis to manage spinal pain. Spinal orthoses can help reduce pain by protecting the muscles and joints of the injured spinal region, preventing or correcting malformations, and limiting trunk flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. The short-term use of spinal orthoses is known to improve pain and disability during the treatment period without significant adverse effects. Spinal orthoses are expected to alleviate pain and improve patients' lifestyle.

Keywords: Conservative treatment; Orthotic devices; Pain; Spine.

Fig. 1.

Soft cervical collar. The subject is wearing soft cervical collar.

Fig. 2.

Philadelphia collar. The subject is wearing Philadelphia collar.

Fig. 3.

Lumbosacral corset. The subject is wearing lumbosacral corset.

Fig. 4.

Thoracolumbosacral orthosis. The subject is wearing thoracolumbosacral orthosis.