Table 1

Characteristics of included studies

Study designStudy participantsSample sizeInterventionComparatorFollow-up
Greig et al27Crossover RCTCommunity dwelling women >50; OVF<2 years; post menopause >5 years; confirmed osteoporosis15Therapeutic taping

  1. Hypoallergenic tape

  2. No tape

Immediate
Kim et al26Parallel group RCTAge >50; acute back pain from single OVF within 3 days of minor trauma60

  1. Rigid TLSO for 8 weeks worn continuously except when lying down

  2. Soft brace for 8 weeks worn continuously except when lying down

No brace12 weeks
Li et al25Parallel group pilot RCTWomen >55; OVF T1 to T5; back pain due to OVF51Spinomed brace 3 h a day for 2 weeks+soft brace remainder of daySoft brace worn all day2 weeks
Liaw et al24Crossover RCTAge 65–85; confirmed OVF; severe osteoporosis47Rigid TLSONo braceImmediate
Murata et al23Before-after studyAcute back pain <1 week; confirmed OVF55TLSO for at least 2 months (24 h/day except for when bathing)–6 months
Pfeifer et al22Crossover RCTAmbulatory community dwelling women >60; 1+ OVF; kyphosis ≥60o62Spinomed for 2 h a dayNo brace6 months
Pfeifer et al21Crossover RCTAmbulatory community dwelling women >60; 1+ OVF; kyphosis ≥60o108

  1. Spinomed for 2 h a day

  2. Spinomed active for 2 hours a day

No brace6 months
Talic et al20Parallel group observational studyOVF59

  1. Three-point orthosis

  2. Plaster corset

–4 months
Valentin et al19Before-after studyWomen >50; receiving treatment for osteoporosis; confirmed OVF; back pain >3 months13Spinomed worn for 15 min/day for 2 weeks; then <2 h/day for 2 weeks; then 2–4 h/day for 8 weeks–3 months

  • OVF, osteoporotic vertebral fracture; RCT, randomised controlled trial; TLSO, thoracolumbosacral orthosis.