A study evaluating orthosis-wearing compliance and quality of life (QoL) measures in patients being treated for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) found that a thin-design undergarment ranked highest for both measures than other types.
The prospective randomized-controlled study compared the effect of three types of undergarments. Thirty-eight subjects with AIS were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: a self-provided, thin-design, or thick-design undergarment. A wearing-compliance logbook, Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire, and brace questionnaire were used to document the orthosis wearing period and quantify the health-related and orthosis-related QoL measures.
The compliance and QoL domains of the subjects in the thin-design undergarment group were significantly higher than those of the other two undergarment groups, the researchers found. The intragroup compliance and QoL scores varied significantly in the four visits throughout the study period.
The researchers also concluded that an adaptation period toward the prescribed orthosis is required to help patients gradually achieve a more stable acceptance.
The study, “Effect of different undergarment designs on the compliance and acceptance of the patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis under orthotic treatment,” was published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International.
