The Sforzesco brace was developed in a town of fashion (Milan), and some patients have stated that this is reflected in its design, that increases wearability.
The Sforzesco brace was developed as a breakthrough in 2004.
We were searching for a way to avoid casting for our worst patients, because of the significant costs involved both at the individual (side effects including cast syndrome, skin problems, significant psychological impact, inability to shower for months, etc.) and social (repeated inpatient treatments) levels.
The acronym SPoRT
We ended up with a new, highly efficacious concept of bracing that we called SPoRT (Symmetric, Patient-oriented, Rigid, Three-dimensional, active).
From a theoretical perspective, we started this research with very well-established principles of correction that we had developed over the years.
These principles are divided into terms of efficacy (type and quality of the brace) and acceptability (compliance).
To make a brace active, it is necessary to ensure complete freedom of the movement of the limbs, to have a perfect styling by the orthotist, to allow and even drive patients to perform physical activities at school and outside, and to train them through specific in-brace exercises. For these reasons, we require patients to continue their sports activities also inside the brace.
Patients want correction and an invisible brace.
This is the reason why we introduced the bracing principle
“Perfect body design and minimal visibility”
What SPoRT means
The SPoRT acronym developed according to these principles, means:
- Symmetric: on the outside, the brace is almost symmetrical to reduce visibility and preserve as much as possible a good body shape
- Patient-oriented: the brace is not visible, according to the acceptability principle. In our view, what patients care most about is having a brace that will be seen as little as possible, not to have less material
- Rigid: the material chosen and the fact that the brace is made in two large pieces strongly connected with aluminium have allowed us to achieve a high rigidity that gives rise to stronger pushes than in other braces.
- Three-dimensional: the purpose of the brace is to have a three-dimensional action on the spine, and all its features have been developed with this purpose in mind, starting from its symmetrical and sagittal physiological external appearance
- Active: this is also a property of the brace, insofar as it allows total freedom of movement for all four limbs
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