Efficacy of a flexible orthotic device in patients with osteoporosis on pain and activity of daily living.

Objective: To study the efficacy of a flexible orthotic device in patients with osteoporosis.
Design: Open observational study.
Patients: Fifty patients with osteoporosis.
Methods: An open observational study was performed on 50 patients with osteoporosis in order to investigate the efficacy of a new osteoporosis orthotic device, which is an elastic back support with paravertebral air chamber pads. The outcome parameters were pain, activities of daily living, individual compliance and comfort. The observation period was approximately 2.5 months, and the orthotic device was worn continuously during daytime.
Results: There was a highly significant reduction in pain under exertion from mean 6.1 (SD 1.7) to 4.5 (SD 1.4) (p < 0.00001), pain when driving (from 5.2 (SD 2.4) to 3.8 (SD 1.9) (p < 0.00001)), and pain at rest from 4.1 (SD 2.4) to 3.1 (SD 1.9) (p < 0.0001). About 50% of the patients judged their ability to perform everyday activities as "much better"or "better". If physiotherapy was interrupted upon onset of orthosis treatment, the results were significantly worse than in patients with continued physiotherapy.
Conclusion: This orthotic device could be a useful addition to the medical care of patients with osteoporosis and a complement to drug treatment and physiotherapy with regular exercises, which should be continued.