POSTURE TRAINING SUPPORT - PRELIMINARY-REPORT ON A SERIES OF PATIENTSWITH DIMINISHED SYMPTOMATIC COMPLICATIONS OF OSTEOPOROSIS

Back supports are often used to minimize or prevent complications of o steoporosis. Nevertheless, the few related studies to date reveal that the currently available thoracolumbar and lumbosacral supports have s ubstantial limitations, including (1) poor compliance because of disco mfort or restricted motion, (2) expense, (3) unacceptable cosmetic and aesthetic appearance, and (4) medical contraindications to the use of rigid supports. We report the initial results of a clinical trial of the Posture Training Support (a thoracolumbar support) in 29 women and 1 man with osteoporosis or osteopenia of the spine (ages 37 to 87 yea rs), who were referred because of back pain or kyphosis. We hypothesiz e that this inexpensive, unobtrusive device promotes improvement in po sture and reduces back pain either by acting as a proprioceptive reinf orcer or by producing a force posteriorly below the inferior angles of the scapulae and thus decreasing the anterior compressive forces that are commonly exerted on the spine. Among the 23 patients who reported substantial back pain before use of the support, relief of the pain w as ''significant'' in 17 and minimal in 6. Nineteen patients noted imp rovement in their posture. No patient reported worsening of back pain or posture, nor did any patient discontinue use of the device for cosm etic reasons, discomfort, or other complaints. Four patients previousl y could not tolerate other back supports, and 14 had previously used o ther supports without substantial improvement. These preliminary resul ts suggest that the Posture Training Support may be of considerable sy mptomatic and prophylactic value to patients with osteoporosis who can not tolerate conventional back supports.