A brace can stop a growing child's curve getting bigger, and in many children it means surgery is avoided. It works best when it's worn for the full number of hours advised. This page covers which braces we use, what to expect, and how to help your teenager cope.
Reviewed by Dr. Kshitij Chaudhary — Last reviewed October 2026
What is a scoliosis brace?
The usual scoliosis brace is a rigid plastic shell, shaped to fit snugly around the trunk and hips. Its proper name is a thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthosis, or TLSO. It opens at the front or back and closes with Velcro straps. It presses on the curve from specific directions, which improves the alignment while the brace is on.
The aim of a brace is to stop the curve getting bigger while your child is still growing. It rarely makes a curve permanently smaller, and it doesn't straighten the spine for good. Success usually means avoiding surgery. Braces are meant for growing children. A brace on a curve that has already reached the surgical range is of little or no benefit.
Full-time braces are worn for about 18 to 21 hours a day. Night-time braces are worn for about 8 to 14 hours. Your doctor will tell you exactly how many hours.
(Image to add: photos of a custom TLSO and a Boston brace, worn and unworn)
Which brace will my child wear?
We usually prescribe either a custom-made TLSO or a Boston brace. Which one is right depends on your child's age, how much growing is left, and the size, pattern and position of the curve. Braces that sit under the arm work well for curves in the middle and lower spine, and less well for curves high in the chest, where the arms and shoulders are in the way. A full-time TLSO can be used for all curve patterns. For a single lower-back curve, some doctors suggest a night-time brace.
Experts differ on exactly which brace suits which child, and not every brace or orthotist is equally effective. Ask us anything you'd like to know.
How is the brace fitted?
The brace is fitted in Mumbai by an orthotist (a brace specialist) we work with.
- We write the prescription and refer you
- The orthotist measures your child, and may take a cast or scan
- Within 2 to 4 weeks the brace is fitted and adjusted
- You come back to us, and we take an X-ray with the brace on to check how well it holds the curve
- The orthotist makes any adjustments, and we set your follow-up visits
The orthotist will also check from time to time that the brace still fits and is being worn properly.
Does bracing work?
Yes, it often does. It doesn't work every time. The best evidence is the BrAIST trial, a large study of 242 children who had typical reasons for bracing, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013. It was stopped early because bracing was clearly helping. Treatment counted as successful if the curve didn't reach 50 degrees before growth ended. About 72 in 100 children who were braced had success, compared with 48 in 100 who were only observed.
The hours mattered a great deal. The longer a child wore the brace, the better the result. Children who wore the brace for 13 or more hours a day did best, with roughly 9 in 10 reaching success. Wearing it for about 6 hours or less made little difference compared with no brace.
Many things affect success: your child's age, how fast they're growing, curve size and pattern, how well the brace is made and worn, attitude, regular follow-up and a supportive family. Some curves still progress despite a brace worn exactly as advised. That is nobody's fault.
How long does my child need to wear the brace?
Until growth is finished, or until the curve reaches a size where surgery is recommended. Most girls finish growing 18 to 24 months after their periods start. Boys keep growing later into their teens, so they often wear a brace for longer.
Wearing time is the single biggest factor in whether a brace works. A brace only helps while it's on.
Can my child still play sport?
Yes. Sport and physical activity don't make scoliosis worse, so keep your child active. Most braces fit under clothing, and they can come off for sport, PE, swimming and special occasions. We'll tell you when the brace can come off.
How do we cope with wearing a brace?
These are years of rapid change, when every teenager is sensitive to being different from friends. Many teenagers say "no way" at first. That's normal. A supportive family, friends and other young people in the same situation make a real difference.
Helpful ideas from teenagers who have worn braces:
- Talk to others who have scoliosis
- Enjoy shopping for clothes that fit over the brace
- Keep doing everything you did before
- Don't try to hide it. It's like braces on your teeth: temporary
- Decorate it, or give it a name
- It's hard, but you can do it, and you should be proud of how strong you are
And from parents:
- Keep your child involved in sport and activities
- Listen to their worries, and recognise that this is hard for you both
- Talk to other parents whose children wear braces
- Give them a hug every day when they're out of the brace
- A short break for a sleepover or a special occasion is fine, but ask us how to make up the hours
What if we decide not to brace?
That's your choice. Your child continues with observation instead, with exams and X-rays every 4 to 12 months. Be aware that in a growing child, a curve that is going to progress may do so without a brace to hold it. We'll tell you honestly how we see the risk for your child.
What if the curve grows despite the brace?
It happens to some children even when they've done everything right. Opinions differ between experts on exactly when to operate, but most agree that scoliosis rarely needs immediate action. We'll talk through all the options with you and your child. There is time to ask questions and to decide. See The Operation and Its Risks for what an operation involves.
This information is for general education and does not replace a consultation with your doctor.