title: Effect of Milwaukee brace on static and dynamic balance of female hyperkyphotic adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biomechanical factors, such as spinal deformities can result in balance control disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bracing on static and dynamic balance control of hyperkyphotic female adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A force platform was employed to record center of pressure (COP) parameters. Ten adolescents undergoing Milwaukee brace for hyperkyphosis and 14 normal subjects participated in the study. The COP data were collected with and without brace immediately on first day and after 120 days of continuous brace wear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found in dynamic and static balance tests with and without brace on the first day (P > 0.05). After 120 days, the values of COP displacement in functional reach to the right and left for the hyperkyphotic adolescents when performing without brace enhanced significantly compared to the first day. The forward reach distance was not significantly different between the normal and hyperkyphotic subjects (P = 0.361); however, hyperkyphotic participants had significantly smaller reach distance in the functional reach to the right (21.88 vs. 25.56 cm) and left (17.04 vs. 21.25 cm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It might be concluded that bracing had a possible effect on improvement of dynamic balance performance, because the subjects could reach the target in dynamic reach tests with higher displacement in sagittal plane without losing their balance control. Clinical relevance Little is known about the biomechanical aspects of brace wear in individuals with hyperkyphosis. This study investigated balance differences between the healthy and hyperkyphotic individuals, and outcomes of Milwaukee brace wear. It might provide some new insight into the conservative treatment of hyperkyphosis for clinicians and researchers.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. arezoo@um.edu.my
authors: Arezoo
authors: A
authors: Eshraghi
authors: Nader
authors: N
authors: Maroufi
authors: Mohammad Ali
authors: MA
authors: Sanjari
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Saeedi
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Keyhani
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Gholizadeh
authors: Noor Azuan Abu
authors: NA
authors: Osman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D012544:Scheuermann Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology