RSC braces
The wearing of an appropriate brace is a very important type of orthopedic treatment. The most common type of scoliosis brace is one that puts lateral pressure on the curved spine in order to reduce the curvature. But not all braces also influence spinal torsion, although spinal torsion and rib cage torsion have been named as the main factors of scoliosis progression. For this reason it is important to also integrate detorsional forces in the construction of the brace. These are the correction principles used by the French professor, Dr. Jacques Cheneau, whose brace construction has been recognized as effective among professionals in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and in other European countries. A scholar of Dr. Cheneau, Dr. Manuel Rigo of Barcelona, later developed a classification system for Cheneau’s biomechanical brace types, and it is thus currently possible to make a RSC or Rigo-System Cheneau brace for each scoliosis curve pattern. The brace looks like a spiral shell which derotates the deformed torso. The use of Cheneau braces in Latvia started in 1998, when Dr. Cheneau first visited Latvia, but the opportunity to learn about brace construction from Dr.Rigo in 2009 enabled to channel brace-treatment in Latvia in a more scientific direction. Dr. Gundars Rusovs, CPO is currently doing research on the biomechanical aspects of scoliosis progression at the Riga Stradina University. The more brace construction can optimize correction specificity, the better the results that can be obtained. More than 90% of treated scoliosis curves are stabilized to the extent that surgery will not be necessary, leaving a small enough residual deformation which is not expected to create problems in the future. An improved, more symmetric appearance is already evident after having worn a detorsional brace for a short time.
