Align Clinic
  • Home
  • Locations
    • AC San Mateo, CA >
      • Inside AC SM
      • Our Practitioners >
        • Grant Wood
        • Steve Baum
        • Miguel Bustamante
      • Advanced Technology
      • Stanford Children's Health Partnership
      • Local Hotels
      • Contact Us
      • Team Members
    • AC Green Bay, WI >
      • Inside Wisconsin
      • Patient Testimonials
      • Contact Us
      • Emery Maloney
    • AC The Woodlands, TX
    • AC Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • The WCR Brace
    • Case Presentations >
      • Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Switching to a WCR Brace
      • Adult Scoliosis Bracing
      • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
      • Treating Upper Thoracic Curves
    • Brace Articles
    • Patient Testimonials >
      • Grant's Testimonials
      • Paul's Testimonials
    • WCR Partner Testimonials
    • Grant's MS Thesis
    • Our Patients
    • Patients and Sports
    • Patients and Hobbies
    • Brace colors
    • Scoliosis Fashion
  • Patient Resources
    • WCR Brace Clinics >
      • USA Clinics
      • China Clinics
      • Canada Clinics
      • Australia Clinics
      • WCR Brace Clinic Finder
    • WCR Certified Practitioners
    • Professional Contacts & References
    • Forms & Insurance
    • Clinical Photos and X-rays
    • Scoliosis Rehab PT, CA
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Brace Clinic Calendar
    • Sosort 2022 - San Sebastian, Spain
    • Past Events >
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis 2018 >
        • Award for Advancements in the Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis
      • Past USA WCR Clinics and Conferences
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment Of Scoliosis 2017
      • Shanghai Clinic
      • AAOP Meetings
      • BSPTS Schroth PT Training
    • Past SOSORT Conferences >
      • sosort2019 San Francisco - CA
      • SOSORT2018 Dubrovnik/Croatia
      • SOSORT2017 Lyon/France
      • SOSORT2016 Canada
    • Northeast Region Re-Align Clinic
  • Services
    • Scoliosis & Spine Online Learning
    • Prosthetics
    • Orthotics >
      • Pediatric Orthotics
      • Cranial Remolding Band
  • Hope's Embrace® Undershirts
  • Wall Grids
  • WCR Brace Fitting Evaluation
  • For PTs/Orthotists
  • WCR Measurement Order Form
  • Masterclass Conferences
  • Careers

The Align Clinic Blog
​ Your Home For Orthotic and Prosthetic Knowledge

TLSO Brace: Types, Indications and FAQs

9/15/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture
The full-back orthosis or the TLSO brace is an orthotic treatment for a variety of spinal issues. 
Although these days the brace is rather common and you’ll see people of all ages wearing it, it’s still a bit daunting for first-time users who have several questions about it. 
If you’re new to TLSO then keep reading as we explore its types, indications, and other FAQs. By the end of this post, I trust that you’ll know all the basic information about this orthosis and that’ll make wearing the brace much easier for you. 
What is The TLSO Brace?
The Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis [TLSO] is a corrective brace that covers the entire back, from below the chin or the collar bone down to your pelvis. 
It’s made of a plastic material with foam and padding inside so that it’s comfortable to wear. The TLSO brace is fitted for your body and it applies pressure and provides stabilization to the back.
This brace is for the entire back but your Orthotist can prescribe the brace for specific segments of your spine as well. Such braces are named according to the regions they support. So the brace that only covers the thoracic spine [mid back] and the lumbar spine [low back] is called a Thoracic- Lumbar Brace [TLO]. 
There are several brace designs; some are one-piece with an opening on the front or the back while others are two-piece braces called clamp-shell style that come together by straps on the sides. 
TLSO Brace Types
The two main categories of this brace are off-the-shelf or prefabricated brace and custom TLSO brace
. Your waist measurements are used to determine the size for the premade ones. And your Orthotist makes the custom brace based on a mold or exact measurements of your body. 

Here are some types of the spinal brace: 
1. Boston Brace 

The Boston brace is the most widely used TLSO brace for scoliosis patients today. It’s prefabricated and comes in many different sizes. The Orthotist matches the brace according to each patient's abnormal curvatures. 
2. Wilmington Brace

The Wilmington brace is a customized scoliosis brace. Its pressure points are designed according to the specific patient and it doesn’t have open slots or relief areas as seen in the Boston brace. 
3. Knight Taylor TLSO 

This brace is different from the other TLSO braces because it usually only has rigid support on the back while the front is a cloth-like material to hold the back frame tight. However, some variations of the Knight Taylor brace do come with chest support/pad. 
It’s used to stabilize fractures or injuries. 
Indications for Prescribing the TLSO Brace
The TLSO is mostly prescribed to fix lateral curvatures of the spine in Scoliosis. But it’s also used to correct postural issues, stabilize your back after an injury, surgery, or a degenerative condition.
Some of the TLSO brace indications include: 
  1. Scoliosis. 
  2. Anterior compression fractures or stabilized fractures of the vertebra.
  3. Instability of the back to maintain upright posture due to osteoporosis or degenerated vertebral disks.
  4. Postoperative stabilization and protection of the spine. 
  5. Paraplegia [paralysis of the lower half of the body].
Common Questions About TLSO
Patients just beginning to use the TLSO have several questions about what they can expect down the line. Based on our experience with back brace clients, here’re some of the FAQs: 
1. How Long Should I Wear the
TLSO Brace? 

The brace is worn for 18-23 hours a day. You have to keep it on while sitting, standing, and doing your daily activities. Some of the braces are required to be worn while laying in bed as well. 
Your Orthotist is the best person who can tell you the exact duration you have to wear it based on your condition. Most scoliotic patients wear it for several months to a year and a half.
2. 
How Can I Clean the TLSO Brace? 
The different parts of the brace are cleaned separately. You can wash the cloth straps with mild detergent and water, the plastic with mild soap and water, and clean the leather portion with a damp cloth. 
Don’t use strong cleaners or detergents on the brace. And always ensure it’s completely dry before putting it back on. 
3. Can I Wear the
TLSO Brace While Exercising or Being Otherwise Physically Active? 

Yes, since you’ve got to wear the brace all day you can exercise with it as well. 
Each brace has some limitations that your doctor can tell you about. Generally, it’s recommended not to lift heavy weights more than five pounds or perform exercises that’ll make you excessively sweaty. 
4. How Much Does TLSO Cost? 

The TLSO brace cost is dependent on various factors such as materials used, customizations, and production company. An off-the-shelf brace can cost an average of $1000-2000 while a custom TLSO brace can be over $5,000. 
There are other costs involved in TLSO care such as screenings, lab tests, scans, and doctor’s office visits. 
Insurance plans do cover most of the cost. You should check with your insurance provider to get an estimate of how much will be covered in your case. 
5. How Will the
TLSO Brace Affect My Skin? 

Some redness on the pressure areas is normal and it’s nothing to worry about as long as it’s resolved once you take the brace off and the region isn’t painful or tender. Wearing a T-shirt helps avoid friction between the brace and skin and it keeps the skin healthy by absorbing perspiration as well. 
You should contact your Orthotist in case of skin breakdown or if you develop a bruise because that’s an indication that your orthosis needs to be refitted. 

Find a TLSO Expert Near You You’ve got to remember several details and tips about cleaning, maintenance, donning, and doffing when using the TLSO brace so that you can fully benefit from it. For that, you need qualified Orthotists who can guide you through this challenging process. 
Book an appointment with our Orthotist or visit our clinic near you to get a brace fitted for your back.  Our multidisciplinary teams can answer all your questions and help you get started with the best TLSO for your needs!  

​
2 Comments
رعاية مسنين بالمنزل link
1/26/2022 02:33:43 am

Great article source to read. Thank you for sharing this.

Reply
Victoria Addington link
10/31/2022 01:11:50 am

I liked how this post shared that the materials used affect the cost of spinal bracing. My friend needs a brace to improve his mobility. I think it's best to turn to a facility that specializes in providing spinal bracing solutions.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
San Mateo, California
700 S Claremont St
Suite #105
San Mateo, CA 94402 
Hours: 8:30-5:30 M-F
​Phone: (650) 375-2231
Fax: (650) 627-4632
Green Bay, Wisconsin
445 Cardinal Lane
Suite #110
Green Bay, WI 54313
Hours: 8:30-5:30 M-F
Phone: (920) 940-5277
Fax: (844) 308-8462


Houston, Texas
1001 Medical Plaza Drive,
​Suite #130
The Woodlands, TX  77380
Hours: 8:30-5:30 M-F
​Phone: (346) 770-2970
Fax: (281) 419-1615
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Florida Medical Center - North
4900 W. Oakland Park Blvd,
Suite #105
​Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313
attention only by appointment
Phone:
(920) 940-5277
Fax: (844) 308-8462
Photos used under Creative Commons from shixart1985, wuestenigel
  • Home
  • Locations
    • AC San Mateo, CA >
      • Inside AC SM
      • Our Practitioners >
        • Grant Wood
        • Steve Baum
        • Miguel Bustamante
      • Advanced Technology
      • Stanford Children's Health Partnership
      • Local Hotels
      • Contact Us
      • Team Members
    • AC Green Bay, WI >
      • Inside Wisconsin
      • Patient Testimonials
      • Contact Us
      • Emery Maloney
    • AC The Woodlands, TX
    • AC Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • The WCR Brace
    • Case Presentations >
      • Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Switching to a WCR Brace
      • Adult Scoliosis Bracing
      • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
      • Treating Upper Thoracic Curves
    • Brace Articles
    • Patient Testimonials >
      • Grant's Testimonials
      • Paul's Testimonials
    • WCR Partner Testimonials
    • Grant's MS Thesis
    • Our Patients
    • Patients and Sports
    • Patients and Hobbies
    • Brace colors
    • Scoliosis Fashion
  • Patient Resources
    • WCR Brace Clinics >
      • USA Clinics
      • China Clinics
      • Canada Clinics
      • Australia Clinics
      • WCR Brace Clinic Finder
    • WCR Certified Practitioners
    • Professional Contacts & References
    • Forms & Insurance
    • Clinical Photos and X-rays
    • Scoliosis Rehab PT, CA
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Brace Clinic Calendar
    • Sosort 2022 - San Sebastian, Spain
    • Past Events >
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis 2018 >
        • Award for Advancements in the Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis
      • Past USA WCR Clinics and Conferences
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment Of Scoliosis 2017
      • Shanghai Clinic
      • AAOP Meetings
      • BSPTS Schroth PT Training
    • Past SOSORT Conferences >
      • sosort2019 San Francisco - CA
      • SOSORT2018 Dubrovnik/Croatia
      • SOSORT2017 Lyon/France
      • SOSORT2016 Canada
    • Northeast Region Re-Align Clinic
  • Services
    • Scoliosis & Spine Online Learning
    • Prosthetics
    • Orthotics >
      • Pediatric Orthotics
      • Cranial Remolding Band
  • Hope's Embrace® Undershirts
  • Wall Grids
  • WCR Brace Fitting Evaluation
  • For PTs/Orthotists
  • WCR Measurement Order Form
  • Masterclass Conferences
  • Careers