BOSTON BRACE

the original
BOSTON BRACE
for the Non Operative Treatment of IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS
Since the controlled study of the
Scoliosis Research Society has
shown that braces can be effective,
it is even more important that
braces are designed so that they
can control curvature. There is no
way that an improperly prescribed,
improperly designed, or improperly
fitted brace will work. Many reports
of the bad results of bracing may
merely be the results of bad bracing.
• Medical Evidence Based
• Modular System
• Custom by Cast or Measurements
• Allows for natural Kyphosis
• Sculpted for Gluteal relief
• 15 Degree Lordosis
• 0 Degree Lordosis for Hyperkyphosis

the original
ABOUT US
BOSTON BRACE
for the Non Operative Treatment of IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS
About Us
Previously a sister company of Boston Brace International Inc (USA)
Allard Support UK Ltd (previously Boston Brace Europe both companies Ltd), continue to to manufacture and promote the original the
Boston Brace System, which provides a proven philosophy, based
Original Boston Brace system, which provides a proven philosophy, based on the foundation of evidence based
on the foundation of evidence based medicine and vigorously
medicine and vigorously supported supported by education by education and training. and Today training. BBE Healthcare The Boston Ltd. supplies bracing the System Boston was range conceived of products in to
Boston Children’s Hospital Continental in Europe, 1972 and Japan, subsequently and Korea, while developed Boston Brace as a International cooperative Inc. venture primarily between supply North, Bill Miller, South
and Central America, and also Australia.
CPO and John Hall, The MD. Boston This same bracing Boston System was Brace conceived System in is Boston now Children's widely used Hospital throughout in 1972 and the subsequently world and is still
regarded as the preferred developed treatment as a cooperative protocol venture for between the conservative Bill Miller, CPO treatment and John of Hall, Idiopathic MD. This Scoliosis. same Boston Over Bracethe
System is now widely used throughout the world and is still regarded as the preferred treatment protocol
years, other braces have emerged which exhibit similar shapes and purposes and the term Boston Brace has
for the conservative treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis. Over the years, other braces have emerged which
often been applied to exhibit them. similar However, shapes and none purposes of these and braces the term have Boston managed Brace has to often repeat been the applied success to them. of the However, original
Boston Brace and none can of these be compared braces have in managed terms to of repeat the volume the success of medical of the original based Boston evidence Brace available and none can to support
its
be
compared in terms of the volume of medical based evidence available to support its effectiveness.
effectiveness.
Principles
PRINCIPLES
Prefabricated symmetrical modules
were original to the Boston Brace
Prefabricated symmetrical
System
modules
at its inception.
were original
There
to
are
the Boston Brace System many at its advantages inception. of There such aare
many advantages of such standardised a standardised system system to each to of the
each of the treatment team treatment members team members but perhaps but perhaps
of most importance is the of most fact importance that a symmetrical is the fact that a
module will tend to correct symmetrical the asymmetric module will spine tend to
toward normal and this correct is at the very asymmetric heart of spine the toward
principle of the system. normal and this is at the very heart
of the principle of the system.
Each individual Boston Brace is constructed according
to a basic set of principles. Each individual By consistently Boston Brace using is
these principles, we have constructed proven that according braces to of a the basic set
highest calibre will be constructed. of principles. By consistently using
these principles, we have proven that
braces of the highest calibre will be
• Symmetrical Module constructed.
• Brace Blueprint
> > > > Symmetrical Module
• Lumbar and Pelvic Flexion
> > > > Brace Blueprint
• Active > and > Passive > > Lumbar Curve and Correction Pelvic Flexion
• Pad Pressure > > > > at Active the Apex and Passive and Below Curve Correction
• Relief opposite > > > > Pad every Pressure area of at force the Apex and Below
> > > > Relief opposite every area of force
BBE Healthcare Ltd.
The Boston Brace System has evolved over the years but few of these principles have been significantly
The Boston Brace System
altered.
has evolved
We believe
over
that
the
this
years
list of
but
principles
few of these
can be
principles
applied to
have
virtually
been
every
significantly
idiopathic
altered.
scoliosis
We believe that
this list of principles can
deformity.
be applied
We
to
encourage
virtually
the
every
orthotist
idiopathic
or technician
scoliosis
to
deformity.
continue to
We
refer
encourage
back to the
the
principles
orthotist
of
or
the
technician to
continue to refer back to Boston the principles Brace when of fabricating the Boston every Brace Boston when Brace. fabricating One should every be Boston able to Brace. look at One a Boston should Brace be and able to look at
a Boston Brace and check check its its correspondence with the blueprint, demonstrate the the ways ways in which in which lumbar lumbar and pelvic and pelvic flexion flexion are are
achieved, active and passive achieved, correction active and achieved, passive and correction make sure achieved, that pad and pressure make sure is that the pad apex pressure and is below. at the There apex and should be a
demonstrable area of relief below. opposite There should most be areas a demonstrable of pressure area and of force. relief opposite most areas of pressure and force.

the original
BOSTON BRACE
for the Non Operative Treatment of IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS
BRACE DESIGN
The goal of Brace Design is to convert a prefabricated module, into an individual orthosis fabricated for the
specific needs of one patient. This is achieved through the ”Blueprint” process where an x-ray of the patients
spine is evaluated and measured (using the Cobb method) which in turn allows the Orthotist to decide the
correct placement of pads, trim lines, etc. The brace Blueprint is the guide for choosing and constructing the
proper brace to treat each type of scoliosis. The brace is named according to the highest curve being treated
by the brace.
Lumbar Brace
The lumbar Brace is used for curvatures with an
apex below L1 or Lumbosacral curves. The module
usually requires a lumbar pad on the convexity of
the curve with a trochanter extension / pad on the
same side as the lumbar pad.
Thoraco-Lumbar Brace
This brace is used for single curves with apex at
T10 to L1 or double curves with a flexible upper
thoracic curve, the upper half of which will not be
braced. This module usually requires a lumbar pad
and trochanter extension / pad on the convex side
of the lower curve with a low thoracic
extension / pad on the opposite side.
Thoracic Brace
The Thoracic brace is used for curves with apex at
T6 to T10 or double curves. This module usually
requires a thoracic extension / pad on the convex
side of the thoracic curve, lumbar pad on the opposite
side and an axllary extension also on the
opposite side to the thoracic extension.
EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE
The Boston Brace system is the most widely studied and proven orthosis among the different approaches to the non-operative
treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. Many studies over the years have shown and proven its effectiveness. It is accepted that brace
treatment can alter the natural history of moderate Idiopathic Scoliosis and the Boston Brace System has been at the forefront
of conservative treatment for over 30 years. We are proud of being the manufacturer of this system and in order to ensure that
your patients are fitted with an original, always look for the ”Original Boston Brace” mark in the abdominal area of the module.

the original
BOSTON BRACE
for the Non Operative Treatment of IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS
Boston Bracing System for Idiopathic Scoliosis: Follow-up results in 295 patients
John B. Emans MD, Andre Kaelin MD, Philippe Bancel MD, John E. Hall MD,
ME. Miller, CP; SPINE, Volume 11, Number 8, 1986
Non-Operative Treatment of Children with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis using the Boston Brace: A Case
Study
Michelina C. Cassella, PT; Physical Therapy Products1994
Current Treatment Approaches in the Non-operative and Operative Management of Adolescent Idiopathic
Scoliosis
Michelina C. Cassella, PT; and John E Hall, MD; Physical Therapy ProductsVolume 71, Number 21/ December 1991
Boston Brace in the treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis
Y. Olafsson MD, H Saraste MD, PHD, V. Soderlund MD, M Hoffsten, Ort Ing.
Journal of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Volume 15, No. 4, 1995
Effectiveness of Treatment with a Brace in Girls Who Have Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Alf L. Nachemson MD, PHD , Lars-Erik Peterson , PHD;
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Volume 77-A, No. 6, June 1995
Prediction of Progression of the curve in Girls who have Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis of Moderate Severity
Lars-Erik Peterson, PHD, Alf L. Nachemson MD, PHD,;
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Volume 77-A, No. 6, June 1995
Brace Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis: What makes sense in the new millennium
John B. Emans MD;
SPINE: State of the Art Reviews, Volume 14, No. 1, Jan 2000
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A new Classification to Determine the Extent of Spinal Arthrodesis;
Lenke et al; The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Volume 83-A, No 8, August 2001
Factors that influence Outcome in Bracing Large Curves in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis:
Donald E. Katz, BS, CO, and AA, Durrani, MD;
SPINE, Volume 26, No 21, November 2001
A Comparison Between the Boston Brace and the Charleston Bending Brace in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Donald E Katz et al; SPINE Volume 22, No. 12, 1997
For more information please visit www.allarduk.co.uk
or contact us at info@allarduk.co.uk.