Applications Wireless Pressure Sensor Boston Brace Biomechanical Principles

Background:The Boston Brace system is widely recognized as an effective, nonoperative treatment in idiopathic scoliosis (IS), but the exact working mechanism of the brace is not completely understood. One possible theory is that by imposing forces on the trunk in the opposite direction of the scoliotic curves, the brace alters the loads on the growing spine so as to facilitate normal growth of the spine, and corrects scoliotic deformity.Objectives:To analyze the biomechanical action of the Boston Brace system.Methods:In this study we developed a wireless force system to measure these direct forces exerted by the pads in the Boston brace in11patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Series Cobb angles of each patient were recorded and analyzed.Results:The mean value of the upper and lower pads are5.11±0.66N and2.75±0.25N each, with an initial curve correction of49±27%.Conclusions:According to our study, the upper pad provides major corrective force, and is the most important; for the same individual, within a certain range, the stronger compression force, the better correction. In addition to the compression force, other factors related to IS, such as the flexibility of the spine, are also important the overall effectiveness of the Boston Brace system.