Back Braces – Is Donning Them Can Cure Your Back Pain?
Complaining of back pain is a widely common issue, as back pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical treatment and absenteeism from work, people use back braces in an attempt to reduce back pain.
The encouraging news is that people can avoid the majority of types of back pain. If attempts to avoid back pain fail, we can do simple treatment from home such as the usage of back braces.
In addition to that, making sure to activate the body properly and exercise regularly, which will treat back pain within several weeks, so that the back will return to its healthy state for a long period.
Moreover, back braces are effective in support the back, reduce strain, and relieve pain.
Causes of lower back pain
- Muscular strain: the most common cause of lower back pain is muscular tension, which is due to an incorrect or sudden weight lift.–
- Rupture or bulging of disks that are located between vertebrae of the spine: Disk bulging or rupture can put pressure on a nerve, leading to back pain.
- Certain daily activities or incorrect movements can cause back pain, such as:
Cough or sneeze.
Bending your body for a long time.
Pushing, pulling, or lifting something heavy.
Standing or sitting for long periods.
Extending the neck forward, such as when driving or using a computer.
Sleeping on a pillow is uncomfortable as it doesn’t keep the spine straight.
The role of using Back Braces to relieve Lower Back Pain
The use of back braces is an effective way of releasing lower back pain. The doctors recommend back braces to support the lower back following surgery and after an episode of back pain due to different causes.
Back braces play an important role in relieving back pain by the following mechanisms:
1- Support the structure of the lower back: back braces provide additional support to the structure of the lower back including -muscles, bones, discs, and ligaments. It provides stability to the spinal structure and enhances pain relief.
2- Reducing the stress and strain: stress and strain usually occur on the back during normal daily activities.
3- Back brace decreases the weight that normally affects the lower back during daily activity, which decreases painful muscle tension that occurs as a protective reaction after injury or trauma.
4- Reduce the range of motion and restrict excessive movement: back braces decrease the range of back movement, which creates a healthy environment for healing the structure of the spine after surgery or injury.
5- Improve the posture of the spine: improve the back posture help to redistribute the weight of the body and reduce the pressure on the area of pain. Consequently, this action enhances the healing of the injured area and reduces the feeling of pain.
6- Reduce the delicate movements between the joints of the spine: a back brace limits the movements of joints, ligaments, and vertebrae. Accordingly, it decreases the pain from muscle tension and irritation of small joints and nerve roots.
Types of Back Braces and the specific use of each type
Back braces vary in composition to help treat a range of back pain conditions, from severe muscle strain to postoperative recovery.
The two main types of the back belt are flexible and rigid back braces, and there are also subcategories within these two broad types.
Flexible back braces
Flexible back belts made of a soft material, such as cotton, canvas, and/or neoprene. These braces include corsets, lumbar belts, and sacroiliac belts.
Flexible lumbar belts or corsets are made of a variety of sizes and designs. A corset brace allows for some limited bending. Corsets typically include vertical metal or plastic stays at the front, back, and/or sides of the brace that provide stability and some motion restriction.
Lumbar belts and sacroiliac belts provide somewhat more restriction in movement and are made of a sturdier fabric without stays.
This type relieves pressure on the spine by supporting the muscles that usually need fixation in the skeleton. Ordinarily, the elastic back belt allows for forwarding movement of the spine.
This type is designed to support the spine when people are lifting heavy things at work or home, and there are other classes of this type that offer light support throughout the day, and this type often comes in various shapes and sizes depending on the area of need.
You should consult the doctor on the appropriate size and fit of a flexible brace to ensure the brace is safe to use and likely to provide effective pain relief.
Rigid Back Braces
The rigid back strap provides support after an injury or surgery, as it is placed on the lower back and stomach with Velcro straps attached.
Common types of rigid back belts
– Boston brace: This type provides support from the shoulder to the coccyx in the back and from the bottom of the chest to the pelvis in the front, and it should be worn at all times, except when showering or swimming.
– Milwaukee brace: This type looks like a Boston belt, but it contains an additional piece that protects the neck area.
– Charleston Belt: doctors recommend wearing this type for scoliosis patients only when sleeping. This brace is asymmetrically shaped to correct the curvature of the spine at night and to help it grow upright.
How can I use Back Braces?
Most medical back belts are worn by following some general steps:
- Wrap the belt around the back, and place its wings on both sides of the torso.
- Connect the two ends across the abdomen.
- Make more subtle adjustments to narrow the strap to fit your size.
- Wear a shirt under the belt to reduce skin irritation. Some doctors often recommend wearing shirts made of soft cotton to prevent irritation.
- When you are buying a back belt for lower back pain, or if you are using it after surgery, it is important that you know its uses and how to wear it correctly to prevent discomfort when using it.
When should I use Back Braces?
Back braces help to support and relieve back pain and to prevent further injury. they are helpful in many conditions, such as:
- Lower back pain following a muscle strain.
- After fractures in bones of the back to reduce the movements and relieve the pain.
- A rigid brace may be used following surgery in the area of the back to reduce pressure on the spinal column, enhance stability, and limiting movements and micro-motions to provide a healthy healing environment.
- Disc herniation. When the disc swells or erupts, a rigid or semi-rigid back belt can help stabilize and reduce fine movement in the affected part. patients can apply the back braces to reduce bending and twisting and help carry some of the weight that discs normally carry.
- Spinal osteoarthritis (inflammation of spinal joints) back braces reduce the micro-motion in affected joints, decrease the pressure on the inflamed area, and relieve the pain.
Should I Wear Back Brace all the time?
Your doctor will tell you how many hours you should wear the brace depending on your condition and the type of brace prescribed, and it is critical to follow their orders so that the brace is effective.
Patients should wear some braces during sleep, and they should wear some other types for 23 hours. Doctors recommend Back braces on a short term basis.
Wearing a brace longer than recommended is thought to contribute to muscle atrophy and dependence on the brace. Furthermost, this behavior can ultimately weaken the back and increase the chance of injury and worsening pain.
What are the factors that must be considered when choosing a medical back belt?
There are two important things to keep in mind when purchasing a back lift belt:
– Types of brace: there are two main types of back belts flexible and rigid braces. Each type is useful in certain conditions.
– Size of the brace: back braces vary in size. Unsuitable size may cause further pain or injury.
References
- spine health(2018)Using a Back Brace for Lower Back Pain Relief, available at https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/alternative-care/using-back-brace-lower-back-pain-relief
- Oklahoma pain management(2014)How Back Braces Help with Lumbar Pain, available at https://backpainok.com/blog/how-back-braces-help-with-lumbar-pain/
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