Back Brace for Lower Back Support: Benefits & Myths

Are you suffering from initial symptoms of backaches and pains? Have you been doing heavy weight lifting? Or, off-late, have you been sitting in uncomfortable chairs?  Most early symptoms and some chronic ailments of the back are curable with a back brace.  Chiropractors usually prescribe a brace for lower back support even after surgery of the abdomen or the back.  

Back injuries at the workplace account for nearly 20% of the overall injuries. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) advocates the implementation of an ergonomics environment. This is to reduce back injuries at the workplace and manage heavyweight lifting-based tasks or jobs. The use of back braces for lumbar support has been in practice for years now.

Here is a complete guide on proper sitting posture at the computer. 

How does a Back Brace Help?

What are back braces for? A back brace is quite effective as a standalone treatment. However, you will find that it is usually a part of a comprehensive part for special treatment plans. In addition, certain health conditions that include major injuries or even surgery may require a patient to wear a back brace for a longer duration. A back brace is also called lumbosacral orthosis (LSO).

It is usually available as an over-the-counter medical accessory. Hence, you will also find some weight-lifters, or those who use heavy equipment at a gym use it often. In addition, certain jobs like those of a bag-loader at airports or those who deal with mechanical work like digging with electrical machines also may be seen wearing one.

You will find many folks wearing a brace for lower back support even without a doctor’s prescription as self-medication. In such cases, you must remember to wear these as prescribed in the product manual.

How Does a Back Brace Work?

The main function of a brace for lower back support is to hold the body/torso in place. The spinal muscles may have injured or weakened with age, so holding the spine in place is the primary function. In doing so, they also minimize the movement of the spine and adjoining muscles and tissues. This allows for the injured and weakened tissues to heal. Thus, a back support brace for posture correction is also advisable in many cases.

Secondly, a back brace is made to ensure that they supplement any main treatment. So how do the braces help? A brace for spine support is a common occurrence. It holds the spine in place, reducing the pressure on the spine, various vertebrae, discs, and joints. As the spine pressure, spinal pressure is reduced, you feel less pain in moving around.

Thirdly, back braces help you improve your posture. They redistribute your body weight to reduce the weight on the spine.  They thus make it easier for any spinal injuries to heal better and faster.

Finally, back braces work as a preventive measure. How? They supplement the back muscles to stay in their place as heavyweights are lifted.  They thus give your body additional and increased functioning.

How to Prevent Low Back Injuries?

Most folks tend to take their spine and back for granted. They sit incorrectly and bend down at their back instead of their knee to pick up an object. Until they have pains, some folks misuse their body. 

While a back brace seems to be the first port of call for many, it is not the only solution.  Even for those who do heavy exercises in a gym or heavy weightlifting at work, wearing a back brace does not guarantee good health.

The best way to reduce back injuries is to fix your posture.  Additionally, have an ergonomic audit carried out. This goal should be to minimize causes contributing to such injuries. Realigning procedures from manual to mechanical or even automatic machines is the starting.  Train your workforce to identify risks and get help. Include training on ergonomics in your work culture.  Get your staff to identify and report symptoms early.

Many folks also are advised to use a posture correction chair. 

Myths about Back Braces

Myth 1: Creates Dependency, Weakens Abdominal Muscles

Well-known medical research suggests that increased duration of brace for lower back support usage increases the body's dependency on it. In contradiction, many researchers have discarded this theory.  Recent medical studies only indicate that patients with lower backache get stronger support and easier relief from a back brace. In addition, they tend to heal faster depending upon various circumstances.  Do consult a doctor for medical advice before you try one yourself.

Myth 2: Back Braces area Cause to Poor Body Postures

Oh, really? One would wonder how this is ever possible. A brace for lower back supporte only holds the spine and other abdominal muscles in place to provide support. In fact, in many cases, a back brace prevents a patient from using incorrect body postures. Such incorrect postures are the cause of lower back pain or injuries in the first place. Hence, a back brace is only a restriction, forcing you to adapt correct body postures for any lifting, bending, or pushing. Ensure that you know where lumbar support should be.

Myth 3: Minimize and Stop Usage of Back Support

Those who use a back brace surely want to get better soon. They probably want to get rid of a back brace as soon as the doctors give a clean chit.  But to believe that you should wean off wearing one can be harmful if done without medical advice.  A back brace has a function meant to help those wearing it. It builds the confidence of those who have had injuries or a weakened spine. So do not remove or stop wearing a back brace without your doctor's advice.

Do look up ergonomic office accessories for your good health. 

Wrap-up

Back braces are a medical invention meant to help those with an injury or a developed weak spine. It provides great support to those who work at machines or tasks that require heavy weight lifting.  A medical consultation is the best thing when in doubt. Do not believe in hearsay and stop wearing one if you have been prescribed a back brace.  Cheers to your health!