Back Pain Relief: Will Back Braces Help My Back Pain?

Back pain treatment utilizing back braces for back pain relief have made somewhat of a comeback in recent years.

The use of back braces to correct or control the spine has been used as far back as the Middle Ages. Early braces were restrictive in their function, utilized rigid metal stays, and were generally uncomfortable to the wearer. Although the materials used in the primitive braces have evolved to a lighter, more comfortable product, the underlying design concepts of those braces have remained the same.

The purposes of spinal bracing include:

➢ Pain control
➢ Protect weak or injured structures through immobilization.
➢ Provide stability to correct or prevent progression of a deformity

Spinal braces are classified as either flexible or rigid designs. Rigid designs are used primarily to treat spinal deformities such as scoliosis or immobilize the back following spinal fracture, while flexible braces are prescribed for unweighting of the spinal joints and herniated discs through the increase of abdominal compression.

Cervical collars are also commonly prescribed following injury or surgery to immobilize the neck, protect strained soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, nerves), and decrease pain. Cervical collars are classified as either soft or rigid and are worn for varying lengths of time depending on the injury or surgery.

Although the elastic type back braces are worn by workers involved in jobs requiring bending and lifting, there is no evidence to support the claim that these braces will prevent someone from injuring their back. What is known, is that these braces provide a reminder to the worker to utilize proper body mechanics when bending and lifting, thus creating an awareness of injury prevention.

After years of working with various types of back bracing, and investigating the latest research in bracing technology, my recommendation to patients who are in need of some form of external support are the braces that provide unloading of the spinal joints by way of increasing the pressure within the abdomen. These braces are lightweight, can be worn under your clothes, and are excellent adjuncts to the total rehabilitation experience.

I have used back braces to treat spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, herniated, bulging, and protruding discs, spinal instability, and spondylolisthesis.
In the Erase Your Back Pain program I recommend only what you need beginning with correcting the underlying cause of the problem. Check it out here: No More Back Pain!

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Dedicated To Erasing Your Back Pain,

Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc
Clinical Specialist
Orthopaedic Physical Therapy