A corset is a sturdy medical construction that belongs to the group of orthotics. It is used to stabilize the human trunk.
What is a corset?
The corset is used to immobilize, stabilize, relieve or correct the human trunk or limbs. The corset belongs to the medical aids of orthoses. This stable support construction is either individually made by an orthopedic technician on the instructions of a doctor or manufactured in an industrial way. The corset is used to immobilize, stabilize, relieve or correct the human trunk or limbs. When the corset is put on, a direct connection is made between the instrument and the parts of the body to be treated. In this way, the functionality of the corset can be ensured. A corset is not to be confused with a prosthesis. Its material is composed of rigid plastic or splint-leather-splint fabric.
Shapes, types and styles
A corset is made either individually, by taking an impression of the patient, or from a prefabricated segment. Furthermore, there are active and passive corsets. One of the most common active corsets is the Milwaukee corset. The most important component is the pelvic cage. Starting from the head, a metal rod runs along the back and two other rods along the abdominal side. This creates the so-called Dunning pad, which is located under the chin. Its purpose is to enable children to maintain an upright posture. A proven passive corset is the Boston corset, which is made using the modular technique. The Boston brace allows the pelvis and lumbar spine to be positioned close to the patient. Direct pressure is exerted on the spine from the pads towards the corrective axis. The Cheneau corset is also a passive corset. The structure and technique of the orthosis are similar to the Boston corset, but it has the advantage of including the thorax in the treatment. Thermoplastic corsets are another variant. They are made to measure, taking into account the individual constitution of the patient. They are made with the help of a plaster cast and in the direction of traction of the spine. A cast is then used to create a model. After that, any necessary corrections can be easily made. In this way, the corset can be made more adaptable. However, the production turns out to be much more costly than the modular technique.
Structure and mode of operation
The construction of a corset follows different principles. Both the statics and dynamics of the human skeletal system are supported. In some cases, they are also made possible by the orthosis in the first place. The special structure of the brace provides immobilization, stabilization or relief of the body section to be treated. Sometimes it may also be necessary to partially restrict the movement of a particular part. Some corsets serve as a support and are intended to relieve the skeleton, as in the case of Perthes’ disease or other degenerative diseases. Orthopedic corsets bear the designation back orthosis or trunk orthosis. Passive trunk orthoses are support corsets. They are primarily used to support and relieve pain patients or people suffering from an unstable spine. Active back orthoses, on the other hand, can be used to treat spinal deformities such as osteoporosis, Scheuermann’s disease, scoliosis, hyperlordosis (hollow back) or kyphosis. They are used especially for children and adolescents to control their growth in the right direction. Likewise, for adults, improving their posture or reducing their pain is possible with an active trunk orthosis. Some trunk orthoses are used to also stretch or straighten the spine. A brace is usually applied to the patient’s back. As with a brace, close contact with the trunk is extremely important in order to achieve a positive effect. For further stabilization, the brace is placed around the patient’s abdomen and attached to a support brace. If the torso can no longer make independent movements, the brace is properly fitted.
Medical and health benefits
With the help of corsets and orthotics, great medical results can be achieved, so there is a high health benefit. The medical instruments can be used in both babies and adults to effectively treat a wide variety of skeletal impairments. A corset is usually used in cases of inflammatory processes in the spine in order to immobilize them. A common application of corsets such as the Boston corset or the Milwaukee corset is scoliosis. This is a curvature of the spine. In the case of scoliosis, the spine of the affected person takes on an S-shape. Furthermore, an unnatural rotation of the spine is noticeable. In addition, a lordosis, in which the spine leans heavily backwards, or a kyphosis, in which the spine points forwards, can occur. Even very pronounced scoliosis can be remedied by wearing a corset. However, the corset may only be used if the direction of growth of the spine can still be influenced. Thus, it must still be growing, which is the case with children and adolescents. At the beginning of the treatment, the corset is worn irregularly so that the young patient can get used to the device. As the treatment progresses, the wearing time increases. Eventually, the patient must wear the brace 23 hours per day. Thus, successful treatment of a growth deformity requires a high degree of consistency. Likewise, the brace has proven successful in the treatment of bone fractures.
