The effect of a novel thoracolumbar brace on spinal alignment in Parkinson's disease: a pilot study.
Elena V Donoso Brown, Scott Bleakley, Gregory Vojcsik and 2 others
PMID 32082033WHAT IT FOUND
Nine of ten people with Parkinson's disease had at least one posture change while wearing a thoracolumbar brace, but balance measures did not change at the group level.
This pilot does not show the brace improves function.
Key findings
01Nine of the ten participants had at least one posture measurement change while wearing the brace.
02When all participants were compared together, the brace did not change balance measures.
03Seven of ten participants agreed or strongly agreed the brace was comfortable, and 60% agreed or strongly agreed they could see themselves wearing it for three to four hours.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was a pilot with only ten participants and a single-subject A-B design, so it cannot show that the brace works for people with Parkinson's disease. The brace was worn for no more than 40 minutes, so the study does not show what happens over a longer working day. Balance data were analysed for only eight participants because the first two had a calibration error. Participants had to be able to walk independently with no more than intermittent cane use, so the results may not apply to people with more severe balance problems. Markers could shift or fall off during testing, and the left-side photos were taken last, which may have introduced fatigue-related error. The brace provider supplied the braces and an analysis program, gave input on study design and outcomes, and one author helped develop the device.
Declared interests
No specific funding was received. AbiliLife provided the braces and an analysis program, and its representatives gave input on the study design and outcomes. Dr. Bleakley assisted in developing the device and was an unpaid board member of AbiliLife until the board dissolved in 2017.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this brace improves posture or balance for patients with Parkinson's disease. The study was a pilot with ten participants, measured only immediate changes while the brace was worn for no more than 40 minutes, and did not show group-level balance improvement.