There are many different types of medical support equipment types. From knee braces to wrist braces to back braces, they all have the same aim and that’s to provide support and relief to the patient. Back braces are perhaps the most common type of support brace available given that back pain is so common place. Here we will give some further information and ideas of what types of brace are available and their uses.
Elastic Lumbar Support Braces
These types of belt help the patient to reduce muscle fatigue, decrease pain intensity, drug consumption and to improve function. These braces are particularly useful for stenosis patients and studies have seen as much as an 80% improvement in their walking distance.
They are good for patients with acute low back pain, stenosis, basic compression fracture and segmental instability.
Patients should wear these braces over thin clothing. Contraindications include hypertension as it can increase blood pressure. Do not wear in bed either.
Rigid Lumbosacral Orthosis
This type of brace adds stiffness to the trunk and improves postural control. As it reduces mobility in the trunk area, it facilitates healing of a spinal injury or soft tissues around the spine and supports weak miscles in the spine.
It also reduces muscle tiredness and decreases the amount of pain.
Rigid braces are good for post surgical low back pain, degenerative spondylolisthesis, instability and spondylolusis.
Issues with the brace include lower usage due to it being rigid and thus uncomfortable and also they are more expensive than elastic versions.
Sacroiliac Support Belt
This type of belt supports the sacroliac area and does this by decreasing the amount of motion one has around the SI joint.
The effects of this belt help decrease pain and improve movement, as well as steadiness.
When being assessed for this brace, patients will typically be assessed with a compressive force applied to both iliac crests while walking. This simulates the belts compressive force and identifies if it will help the patient or not.
In conclusion, these belts certainly may help with support and much needed relief and resting of particular muscles. We can help identify if such a belt will help or not during your examination and treatments.
If you’re in pain right now, if you don’t have to be. Give us a call or schedule an appointment online. We also accept insurance. You can Schedule an appointment here.
