An intelligent spinal orthosis

尽管矫形器(支具)用于脊柱侧弯治疗已有40年的历史，但矫形技术主要是经验性的。佩戴矫形器的时间通常是基于直觉的。最常见的建议佩戴时间是每天23小时；这个数字不是基于任何客观数据。青少年特发性脊柱侧凸矫形治疗的结果通常被认为与患者的依从性有关。患者每天佩戴矫形器的次数越多，达到规定的紧固度和规定的时间长度，预期的治疗结果就越好。缺乏治疗方案的科学依据，如患者应该佩戴矫形器多紧？应该佩戴多长时间？他们在家中和学校的依从性如何？这些因素是否真的重要、必要和与临床疗效相关？此外，支具矫正似乎与矫形治疗的结果有关。然而，需要多少校正才能提供最佳结果还是个未知数。虽然X光片可以提供支具施加的矫正信息，但将成长中的儿童暴露在额外的辐射中是不可取的。因此，这项研究的目的是了解支撑看起来有效的现象背后的科学。这项建议是为了开发工具和方法，可以用来更好地了解AIS矫形治疗背后的科学基础。

Despite the fact that orthotic (brace) has been used for 40 years for scoliosis treatment, the orthotic techniques are primarily empirical. The amount of time an orthosis is to be worn is generally based on intuition. The most commonly recommended wear time is 23 hours per day; this number is not based on any objective data. The outcome of orthotic treatment for Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is normally considered being associated with the patient's compliance. The more often the patients wear their orthoses to the prescribed tightness as well as to the prescribed length of time each day, the better the treatment outcome is expected. There is lack of a scientific basis for treatment protocol such as "How tightly should patients wear their orthoses? How long should they wear? How good is their compliance at home and at school? Are these factors really important, necessary and related to the clinical efficacy?" Also, the in-brace correction seems to relate to the orthotic treatment outcome. However, how much correction is needed to provide the optimal results is unknown. Although radiographs can provide information on correction imposed by the brace, exposing growing children to additional radiation is undesirable. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand the science behind the phenomenon that braces appear effective. This proposal is to develop tools and methods that can be used to better understand the scientific basis behind the orthotic treatment for AIS.