The Basics: Under the Brace

With the weather currently being a delightful mix of hot and clammy, I have definitely been more aware of the cons of having half an inch of plastic wrapped around my torso. Lately, I’ve found myself all hot and bothered. Being so sticky from the sweat under your brace is not only bad for your skin, but also just feels gross (TMI? Sorry...just trying to be real!). But, I try to limit the amount of sweat that can be squeezed out of my clothes by finding suitable tops to wear under my brace.

When I was first diagnosed with scoliosis, my doctor gave me what he called a “body sock” that you would dispose after wearing once. However, the material was thick and did not breathe, which gave me rashes. Not to mention the fact that it wasn’t great for the environment.

So, I started looking at other options. I decided to go with 100% cotton tops because they were the most breathable, and I still wear them to this day. We got about 15 ribbed, white, cotton tanks from Old Navy, and they have stuck by my side like an old friend. To my dismay, the tank tops from Old Navy were discontinued, but I have found possible alternatives that would work well. The most important things in looking for an under-the-brace tank are that it breathes well and it is long enough to cover all of the skin covered by the brace. Hopefully one of these options will work for you...and remember, we are bent, not broken! :)

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