SHOULDER BRACE by BRACE international

STITCHING 

GLENOHUMERAL STRAP

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APPLYING BRACE

STEP 1 

APPLY THE BRACE OVER THE INJURED SHOULDER. GRASP ONE END OF BRACE AT BOTTOM AND PULL OVER VELCRO CLOSURE MAKING SURE TO CLOSE BOTTOM TIGHTER THAN TOP. SEE FIGURE 1. THE FIT SHOULD BE SNUG BUT SHOULD NOT RESTRICT BREATHING.

FIGURE 1

STEP 2

SECURE THE VELCRO STRAP THROUGH THE D-RING TO LOCK IN SIDE CLOSURE. SEE FIGURE 2. ATTACH THE VELCRO CLOSURES AT THE BICEPS TRYING TO GET AS TIGHT A FIT  AS POSSIBLE, THIS WILL MINIMIZE ANY ROTATION WITH THE BICEPS CUFF. SEE FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2

STEP 3

NOTE THAT THE BUCKLES ON THE SHOULDER BRACE SNAP OPEN FOR EASY ADJUSTMENT. ALLOW FOR SLACK ON THE STRAPS THEN LOOSEN OR TIGHTEN WEBBING. ONCE DESIRED STRAP LENGTH IS REACHED BE SURE TO SNAP BUCKLE SHUT AND THREAD WEBBING THROUGH BACK OF BUCKLE. SEE FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 3 

ABDUCTION CONTROL 

TO ACHIEVE SIMPLE ABDUCTION CONTROL, AS IN FIGURE 4, AFTER APPLYING THE BRACE ATTACH THE GENOHUMERAL STRAPS TO THE BICEPS CUFF WITH THE STITCHING ATTACHING THE FRONT AND BACK STRAPS POSITIONED AS IN FIGURE 5A. THIS POSITIONING IS VERY IMPORTANT. SEE NOTE AT FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 4

EXTERNAL ROTATION 

IMPORTANT

THE POSITIONING OF THE STITCHING IS CRITICAL TO MAXIMIZE THE ALLOWABLE FORWARD FLEXION WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MINIMIZING EXTERNAL ROTATION. IN FIGURE 5 AS YOU MOVE THE POSITIONING FROM A TO C AND SHORTEN THE FRONT STRAP YOU WILL MINIMIZE EXTERNAL ROTATION.

FIGURE 5 

5A        5B        5C

NOW SIMPLY TIGHTEN OR LOOSEN THE STRAPS THROUGH THE FRONT AND BACK BUCKLES TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED RANGE OF MOTION AND ABDUCTION CONTROL. SEE FIGURE 6. 

FOR ADVANCED FITTING 

TO MAXIMIZE ABDUCTION IN FORWARD FLEXION PLEASE REFER TO THE NEXT SECTION.

FIGURE 6

ADVANCED FITTING

STEP 1

THE SHOULDER BRACE IS VERY EFFECTIVE MAXIMIZING ABDUCTION IN FORWARD FLEXION AS IN FIGURE 7. THIS IS IDEAL FOR PEOPLE WHO MUST REACH OVER THEIR HEAD BUT STILL REQUIRE PREVENTION OF EXTERNAL ROTATION AND BACKWARD EXTENSION IN ABDUCTION.

FIGURE 7

STEP 2

LOOSEN THE BACK STRAP, IF NECESSARY TAKE THE BACK STRAP COMPLETELY OUT OF BUCKLE. POSITION STITCHING IN FRONT OF BICEPS AS IN FIGURE 5(SEE NOTE). IT IS NOW IMPORTANT TO TIGHTEN THE FRONT STRAP TO CONTROL BACKWARD EXTENSION.

FIGURE 8

A/C SEPARATIONS

THE SHOULDER BRACE IS ALSO EFFECTIVE IN SUPPORTING ACROMIO CLAVICULAR SEPARATIONS. IF THE JOINT IS STILL TENDER A DONUT OR PROTECTIVE PAD CAN BE PLACED UNDER THE BRACE. TIGHTEN THE A/C STRAP BY ADJUSTING THE STRAP THROUGH THE FRONT AND BACK BUCKLES. SEE FIGURE 9. 

FIGURE 9

Warning: The shoulder brace is to be used only to help, reduce and minimize further injury to an already existing injured shoulder. However, no shoulder brace can prevent all shoulder injuries, and no guarantee is made, either expressed or implied, that an injury will be prevented with this brace. 
THIS BRACE IS NOT TO BE USED AS A PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR A NORMAL SHOULDER. 

***MACHINE WASH IN COLD WATER AND HANG DRY ONLY.***