Scoliosis Brace Cover

Wearing a barrier between the skin and a scoliosis brace is essential to prevent irritation and keep the brace clean. While undershirts are commonly used, they present several challenges that a custom brace cover can better address:

·  Improved Skin Protection: Undershirts can shift during wear, exposing skin and increasing the risk of friction, irritation, and sores. A brace cover stays securely in place on the brace by wrapping around it entirely, offering consistent coverage.

·  Less Visibility: Undershirts sometimes show through the neckline or arm holes of clothing. Many braces come up into a patient's armpit and therefore undershirts usually have an extra flap of material to try to prevent rubbing.  Sometimes the flap will accidentally move or poke out of an arm hole. This adds to what can already be a self-consciousness experience and limits wardrobe options, particularly for teenage girls, who make up the majority of patients.

·  Cooler and More Comfortable: In hot climates, during summer, right after exercising or hot showers, brace wear can be especially hot and uncomfortable. A cover eliminates extra material that undershirts have on shoulders, chest and hips. This can help reduce overheating and sweating in your brace.

·  Easier and Faster to Use: Traditional braces often secure in the back, which can make them challenging to get on and off quickly by yourself.  The extra step of taking your undershirt on and off takes even more time. A brace cover that stays on the brace itself functions as a single unit, making it easier and quicker to take the brace on and off. This is especially helpful during quick changes at school (e.g., before and after P.E. and afterschool sports) or when socializing at sleepovers, etc.

The Brace Cover wraps around the entire brace inside and outside.  As you take the brace on and off during the day, the cover stays on the brace itself until you change it for a new one. It functions as one unit.  The cover goes on horizontally like a  “sock” or pillowcase with slits for the straps and buttons for the open side.

Brace Cover Objective:

·  Washable, breathable brace cover 

·  Slides over the Boston brace horizontally (like a sleeve/tube),

·  Has slit openings for straps to come through (for fastening),

·  Eliminates the need for an undershirt.

Fabric Suggestion: 

Cotton-Spandex Blend / Bamboo (stretchy, breathable, soft) (I purchased on Amazon)

Measurements Needed:

1.  Take measurements of the brace itself, not the torso.

2.  Circumference of Brace (at widest point)

3.  Height of Brace (bottom to top edge)

4.  Strap Positions (measure distance from bottom of brace to center of each strap)

5.  Width of Each Strap

Pattern Shape:

1.  Main Body Panel: circumference around brace (width) and of height (2x). Cover will wrap around the interior and exterior of the brace like a tube.  

2.  Strap Slits:

·  Mark strap location. 

·  Make slits just wider than each strap.

·  Finish slit edges using zigzag, serger, or facing rectangles (strap slit reinforcers). Making the brace cover is very simple but this step takes some care and attention to detail. add buttons to the exterior to close the open side. See images to help you.

3.  Test-fit the cover over the brace and adjust for tightness if necessary.

Care:

Use breathable, moisture-wicking fabric.

Make multiple covers for rotation during laundry cycles.