Reimagining the Brace: From Immobilizer to Active Therapeutic

By Amy Baxter, MD FAAP FACEP

The “movement is medicine” concept now pervades physical therapy. Motion speeds recovery, activates growth at a cellular level, and reduces pain by increasingly known and complex mechanisms. As the role of movement grows in medicine, how does immobilization fit?

Bracing reduces acute pain by restricting and protecting vulnerable anatomy from further damage, and can repair bone alignment over time. Yet in an era of accelerating neuromuscular, myofascial, and sensory‑modulation science, passive immobilization is increasingly inadequate. Both pro-movement and anti-immobilization studies suggest a benefit of cellular activation even when rigidity is required. Designers and manufacturers must now incorporate these discoveries to address the increasing likelihood that traditional bracing is often counter‑productive.

In this article, we explore how device manufacturers can adapt to this shift: why immobilization often fails or even harms; the physiology of injury in response to immobilization; how electrical and mechanical stimulation impact muscle and bone; how new “smart braces” can integrate stimulation, sensing, and adaptive control; and what design, regulatory and coverage implications emerge. The next generation of braces will be therapeutic devices in their own right, going beyond passive smart tracking to modulate tissue perfusion, osteogenesis, fascial mechanics, and pain, thereby improving long‑term functional outcome.

Read the rest of the article in Orthopedic Design & Technology Magazine.