The effect of posture support corset (posturex) on balance, dorsal kyphosis angle and quality of life in patients with kyphosis developed due to osteoporosis

Purpose:The aim of our study is to investigate whether posture support corset, which is called posturex, provides additional benefits to the routine osteoporosis and balance exercises on reducing the dorsal kyphosis angle and increasing the balance ability and quality of life in patients with kyphosis developed due to osteoporosis. We recommend posturex to these patients to relieve the pain and correct their kyphotic posture in our outpatient clinics.Material Method:29 patients diagnosed with osteoporosis and determined with the dorsal kyphosis angle above 50 in dorsal vertebral graphs were taken into the research. The patients were separated in two different groups randomly. One group (n=14) was given the conventional osteoporosis exercise program (stretching, strengthening and balance exercises), other group (n=15) was also given the posture support corset (posturex) in addition to this treatment, then the patients were followed up for three months. The static balance of the patients was measured by `?Kinesthetic Ability Trainer?? (sport KAT 1700) and single foot balance test ; the functional mobility was evaluated by `?Timed Up & Go?? test and the functional balance evaluation was done by Berg Balance Scale. Dorsal kyphosis angles were measured by Cobb method. The quality of life was evaluated by the `?Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis?? (QUALEFFO 41). Dorsal kyphosis angle and height measurements were performed at baseline and after three months, however the other evaluations were reported at baseline, after one month and at the end of the study.Results:The significant difference was not found between two groups in terms of age, tall, body mass index, education level, menopause age, history of chronic disease, functional activity score, calcium score and vitamin D ingestion, presence of non-vertebral fracture, number of vertebral compression fracture and the number of exercise done (p>0.05).In both groups, a significant recovery was found in given treatment in terms of values measured by Berg Balance Scale, ?Timed Up & Go?? test, right and left foot balance test, the physical and mental functional dimensions of quality of life and dorsal kyphosis (p<0.05). However, a significant recovery was not found in any group in terms of balance evaluations measured by Sport KAT (p>0.05).In terms of height of the patients, a statistically significant difference was found between the measurements at baseline and at the end of the study only in the group included patients using the corset (p=0.034).In comparison of two groups, no significant difference was found in all other evaluations and measurements that were performed at baseline, after one month and at the end of the study.Conclusion:These results of the study showed that using posturex for three months didn?t provide additional benefit statistically in terms of balance, dorsal kyphosis angle and the quality of life parameters to the exercise program in patients with kyphosis and osteoporosis. However, using posturex contributes height increase by providing the patients with more vertical posture compared to the patients given the exercise program only.Keywords: Osteoporosis, kyphosis, corset, balance, quality of life.