Postural correction by osteoporosis orthosis (Osteo-med): a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Currently available therapeutic options for the correction of osteoporotic posture changes are not effective. Rigid or semi-rigid orthoses are only applicable in the early phase after vertebral body fractures, and the knowledge about the efficacy of flexible spinal orthoses is limited. Therefore, the present study is aimed at investigating the efficacy of a flexible spinal orthosis without any stabilizing components in terms of posture improvement. Forty women aged (65.9 +/- 8.4 years) with a proven osteoporosis (DXA < or = -2.5) were randomized to receive either of three treatment regimens: (i) Orthosis (Thämert Osteomed) with paravertebral/lumbosacral air chamber pads (as commercially available); (ii) The same orthosis without air chamber pads; and (iii) Placebo body stocking. Measurements were performed with a 3D real-time ultrasound topometry system (Zebris(R) CMS 70). The posture correction was substantially and significantly more marked in the first group (38% of the maximally possible intentional erection) as compared to the second (21%) and third group (13%). The orthosis with air chamber pads causes a clinically meaningful trunk support in patients with osteoporotic posture changes. Since the device contains no rigid stabilizing elements, the change in posture is considered to be a result of muscle activation due to sensomotor stimulation by the air chamber pads.