ReviewSpine deformity2026
The effect of bracing on pulmonary function in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Review in Spine deformity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe impact of bracing on pulmonary function in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) remains unclear, with prior studies reporting variable findings. Some report short-term reductions during brace wear, whereas long-term impairment has not been consistently demonstrated. To clarify these effects, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials.
methodsPubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from inception to 15 October 2025, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, along with screening of reference lists. Eligible studies were controlled trials evaluating the effects of bracing on pulmonary parameters in AIS. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data, evaluated methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and performed pooled analyses.
resultsFourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 548 participants. Pooled findings indicated short-term reductions in several pulmonary measures. Immediate decreases were observed in total lung capacity (SMD = - 0.83, p = 0.01) and functional residual capacity. FVC and FEV
conclusionsCurrent evidence indicates that bracing in AIS may lead to short‑term or in‑brace reductions in lung volumes and ventilatory parameters, while persistent or irreversible impairment after brace removal has not been demonstrated. These findings support a mechanical rather than pathological explanation for most observed changes. Incorporating mitigating strategies, such as respiratory muscle training, may help manage short-term respiratory effects during brace treatment.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42068461What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.