Table 5.

Restrictions in participation/quality of life as measured by the SF-36 (mean; (SD) range) for the total study group, the braced and the unbraced group

SF-36 sub-scale	Total	Braced	Unbraced
Physical functioning	80; (20) 25–100	84; (18) 50–100	76; (22) 25–100
Social functioning	85; (19) 38–100	83; (20) 38–100	86; (18) 63–100
Phys. role restriction	72; (39) 0–100	68; (39) 0–100	77; (41) 0–100
Emotion. role restr.	81; (32) 0–100	72; (40) 0–100	91; (15) 67–100
Mental health	79; (17) 24–100	75; (20) 24–100	83; (11) 64–100
Energy/vitality	69; (20) 20–100	68; (21) 35–100	71; (20) 20–100
Pain	78; (25) 0–100	82; (21) 22–100	73; (28) 0–100
General health	74; (15) 30–95	79; (9) 65–95	68; (19) 30–90
Change in health	54; (19) 25–100	58; (19) 25–100	48; (16) 25–100