An orthopedic immobilization method using a device having a torso brace positioned around a subjects torso, a leg brace positioned around a respective leg of the subject, a connecting rod for each leg brace and at least one torso-brace joint assembly. Each joint assembly is coupled to the torso brace and a respective connecting rod and includes a torso-brace ball-and-socket joint and a torso-brace locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has an unlocked state in which pivoting of the connecting rod relative to the torso brace is possible, and a locked state in which such pivoting is prevented. A leg-brace joint assembly is coupled to each leg brace and its connecting rod, and includes a leg-brace ball-and-socket joint and a leg-brace locking mechanism having an unlocked state in which pivoting of the respective connecting rod relative to its leg brace is possible, and a locked state in which such pivoting is prevented.
