Frequently Asked Fitting and Brace Wear Questions
- We are in the first week and are finding it is sliding around, can we put the shoulder straps on now or do we have to wait until phase 2?
In the beginning it will tend to slide around and you have to keep adjusting the position to re-place it over the apex. This is usually only for the first ~10 days. After that the chest has usually compressed enough that the brace sits flusher against the chest and then does not slide around as much.
It is better if you can wait until you are at least at 10 days before adding the shoulder straps but it is not a big issue of you feel a need to do it earlier.
- Is there an extra padding we can add to give a little more cushion to his sternum where the two bones stick out?
Some kids will add a facecloth or similar under the chest pad in the beginning to make it a little easier. Tenderness in this area is usually temporary as the skin builds up a tolerance to the pressure. At no point should he develop a sore, if the skin looks like it is red enough to become a sore then you need to reduce the number of click on the straps and begin wearing the shoulder straps to keep it in place.
Sleeping?
- He has been wearing the brace for 8 weeks and the results are amazing but his chest now seems to go slightly in rather than out. Is this a concern?
This is not an uncommon scenario. The LA Brace is very effective at reducing a PC and often to the point where the chest starts to look slightly sunken. This is rarely a concern but it may necessitate that we change the wearing schedule. Please email us with a picture of the chest so we can revise your wearing schedule.
We are not in a rush to move to Phase 3, more concerned with the PC not returning. Is it okay to continue full time longer than suggested?
He is beginning phase 2. He’s a baseball player and up to this point hasn’t had any discomfort while throwing or batting since he started the treatment program. Now he is in phase 2 and having pain when he throws…is that normal? Will it subside after a few weeks of this setting phase?
It is not normal to have pain but it definitely sounds like an excess pressure issue from his throwing motion. I would recommend wearing it a little looser when he is playing and use the shoulder straps so it doesnt slide down.
Have you had many athletes do the treatment program and if so were they able to continue their sport with the brace on?
Most (~70%) kids have continued to do sports but ~30% percent abstain from their sport for a short while when they in Phase 2 and then start up again once they are in Phase 3 (and then do their sport without the brace).
How do we know if the brace is tightened too much? It’s still not flush to his skin and he continues to tighten throughout the day as it loosens but just want to make sure he’s not tightening it down too much.
It is possible to over-tighten the brace, discomfort and/or significant redness are signs of it being worn too tight.
Anytime you want to send us picture of his chest with or without the brace we will be happy to review them.