@article{MuellerWinterKleinetal.2010,
  author    = {M{\"u}ller, Carsten and Winter, Corinna and Klein, Dieter and Fuchs, Katharina and Schmidt, Carolin and Schulte, Tobias L. and Bullmann, Viola and Rosenbaum, Dieter},
  title     = {Objective assessment of brace wear times and physical activities in two patients with scoliosis},
  series = {Biomedizinische Technik},
  volume    = {55},
  journal   = {Biomedizinische Technik},
  number    = {2},
  doi       = {10.1515/BMT.2010.026},
  pages     = {117 -- 120},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {Conservative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis consists of therapeutic exercise and the application of braces. The effectiveness of bracing mainly depends on patient compliance, which can be determined by means of temperature sensors. This methodological paper describes the feasibility of objectively determining compliance and daily physical activities before and during conservative scoliosis treatment, being a relevant indicator for quality of life in children and adolescents. One patient with low compliance (61.4±24.9\%) reduced her activity level during bracing by 50.1\%, whereas another patient with a satisfactory compliance (85.7±19.5\%) increased her daily activity level by 33.7\% during conservative treatment.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MuellerFuchsWinteretal.2011,
  author    = {M{\"u}ller, Carsten and Fuchs, Katharina and Winter, Corinna and Rosenbaum, Dieter and Schmidt, Carolin and Bullmann, Viola and Schulte, Tobias},
  title     = {Prospective evaluation of physical activity in patients with idiopathic scoliosis or kyphosis receiving brace treatment},
  series = {European Spine Journal},
  volume    = {20},
  journal   = {European Spine Journal},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00586-011-1791-9},
  pages     = {1127 -- 1136},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Bracing is an established method of conservative treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and kyphosis. Compliance among adolescents is frequently inadequate due to the discomfort of wearing a brace, cosmetic issues, and fear on the part of patients and parents that bracing may reduce everyday physical activities. The aim of this prospective, controlled study was to objectify the impact of spinal bracing on daily step activity in patients receiving conservative treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) or adolescent kyphosis (AK). Forty-eight consecutive patients (mean age 13.4 ± 2.3 years), consisting of 38 AIS patients (33 girls, 5 boys) and 10 AK patients (6 girls, 4 boys) were included. Once the decision to carry out bracing had been taken and while the patients were waiting for the individual brace to be built, step activity was assessed without braces by means of step activity monitoring (SAM) for seven consecutive days. After 8 weeks of brace wearing, step activity was assessed during regular brace treatment, again for seven consecutive days. In addition, brace-wearing times were simultaneously recorded using temperature probes implanted in the braces to measure compliance. Before and during brace treatment, patients completed the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-22) questionnaire. The SAM was worn for an average of 12.7 ± 1.5 h/day during the first measurement and 12.3 ± 1.9 h on average during the second measurement. The mean gait cycles (GCs) per day and per hour before treatment were 5,036 ± 1,465 and 395 ± 105, respectively. No significant reduction in step activity was found at the follow-up measurement during bracing, at 4,880 ± 1,529 GCs/day and 403 ± 144 GCs/h. Taking the 23-h recommended time for brace wearing as a basis (100\%), patients wore the brace for 72.7 ± 27.6\% of the prescribed time, indicating an acceptable level of compliance. Girls showed a higher compliance level (75.6 ± 25.6\%) in comparison with boys (56.7 ± 31.9\%), although the difference was not significant (P = 0.093). The SRS-22 total score showed no differences between the two measurements (2.57 ± 0.23 vs. 2.56 ± 0.28). Implementing a simultaneous and objective method of assessing step activity and brace-wearing times in everyday life proved to be feasible, and it expands the information available regarding the impact of bracing on patients' quality of life. The results clearly show that brace treatment does not negatively interfere with daily step activity in AIS and AK patients. This is an important finding that should help reduce patients' and parents' worries concerning bracing.},
  language  = {en}
}