VENICE, CA, October 15, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Back braces may seem, to some, like antiquated medical technology--yet according to Victor Surma, they are anything but. Surma, an orthopedic device sales consultant of national renown, says that wearing a back brace can actually work wonders for slowing the progression of conditions like scoliosis. To affirm his point, he offers a recent study, reported by The New York Times. Victor Surma has issued a new statement to the press, commenting on the New York Times piece.

According to the article, the new study has offered the most compelling evidence yet that wearing a back brace can slow the progression of common forms of scoliosis in adolescents--ultimately eliminating the need for painful surgery. Back braces have come recommended by physicians for more than 50 years now, but this is one of the first studies to prove their effectiveness.

This is significant, not least because scoliosis remains a common problem--and one that is sometimes difficult to evaluate or to treat. Says the article, "The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended against scoliosis screening in schools partly on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence that bracing and other conservative treatments relieved back pain or improved quality of life in these children."

According to the New York Times article, however, this new randomized study should put an end to the longstanding debate, and may even lead to new policies regarding the screening and ultimate treatment of scoliosis.

According to Victor Surma, the study lends validation to a medical device that is sometimes underestimated. "The back brace strikes some as crude and possibly ineffective, but actually it can go a long way toward preventing the need for elaborate, potentially painful surgeries," Victor Surma explains.

The New York Times, meanwhile, offers some background on scoliosis. "Adolescent girls are more likely than boys to have idiopathic scoliosis, or curvature of the spine from no known cause," the article states. "Rigid bracing is worn to restore spine alignment by external force."

While this is a demanding treatment, experts contend that it is a preferable option to surgery, which can cause quite a bit of pain. As the new study suggests, back brace treatment can prove effective, essentially remedying scoliosis in a majority of patients.

Though the study indicates that bracing can be an effective treatment, it does not reveal which children are most likely to benefit from it. It also acknowledges that, while many children benefit from bracing, others do not--and some even see their condition worsen.

The alternatives are less palatable, however. "A common surgical treatment, spinal fusion, entails putting screws and rods in the spine to straighten it," comments The New York Times. "The procedure has greatly improved, but young patients still face risks like infection, bone healing problems and, rarely, paralysis."

Victor Surma is a long-time sales professional, working in the field of orthopedic devices and nationally ranked within his industry.

ABOUT:

Victor Surma is well-regarded as a sales consultant and advisor with years of experience selling medical implants for orthopedics. He was the top-ranked national seller in 2011, and the #2 national seller in the following year. As an orthopedic specialist and sales pro, Surma is highly successful, and also exceedingly passionate about the effects of orthopedic medicine.