Scoliosis FAQ • What Is Scoliosis? • What Causes Scoliosis? • How Does the Doctor Diagnose Scoliosis? • Does Scoliosis Have To Be Treated? What Are the Treatments? • Are There Other Ways To Treat Scoliosis? • Which Brace Is Best? • If the Doctor Recommends Surgery, Which Procedure Is Best? • Can People with Scoliosis Exercise? • What Are Researchers Trying To Find Out About Scoliosis? • Where Can People Get More Information About Scoliosis?

The decision about which brace to wear depends on the type of curve and whether the patient will follow the doctor's directions about how many hours a day to wear the brace.

There are two main types of braces. Braces can be custom-made or can be made from a prefabricated mold. All must be selected for the specific curve problem and fitted to each patient. To have their intended effect (to keep a curve from getting worse), braces must be worn every day for the full number of hours prescribed by the doctor until the child stops growing.

Milwaukee brace--Patients can wear this brace to correct any curve in the spine. This brace has a neck ring.

Thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO)--Patients can wear this brace to correct curves whose apex is at or below the eighth thoracic vertebra (see "Normal Spine" diagram). The TLSO is an underarm brace, which means that it fits under the arm and around the rib cage, lower back, and hips.

Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.