A good back brace can be extremely beneficial in both rehabilitation and injury prevention. Lumbar supports and braces for the lower back are readily available over the counter and also as a prescription. While purchasing a back brace from WalMart may be convenient, chances are high the product does not offer the correct support or falls apart after the first use. PLUS without instructions about how to use a lumbar support, there’s a high chance you could also be using it incorrectly. Without knowing when/how to properly wear or how to adjust them, back braces can cause more harm than good! Keep reading to learn the right way to get the most from a lumbar brace here…..
Besides quality issues, the lack of sound advice is the most important reason why you should always get a back brace prescribed by your doctor. Some patients will have very specific areas of spinal instability and this may impact when/how they wear the brace, or even require a specific type of brace. Only their doctor will know this. However most medical grade lumbar supports are effective for most cases. Regardless of the style or type, the most important information to know about back braces is how long you wear them.
If you wear a back brace too long…. Too many hours/day for too many days, your core musculature can become weaker, contributing to further lumbar instability. Unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor, common recommendations are not to wear a lumbar support more than a few hours/day and not longer than several weeks in a row. When used as part of a medical treatment plan, your doctor can outline a regimen to monitor muscle atrophy, limit dependence and also ensure max benefit. (1)
When you need a good back brace, the best place to get one is Solutions Integrated Medicine! Lumbar supports are an important part of the treatment programs we recommend. We offer the best bracing for the lower back in the industry, called the LSO Lumbar Sacral Orthosis back brace. We also help fit the brace and instruct our patients how to wear and care for it properly. If you have lower back pain, contact us for an evaluation to see if a back brace might help!
1. https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/alternative-care/using-back-brace-lower-back-pain-relief
