The Lowdown on Back Braces: Types and Benefits

Physical inactivity which is often related to the sedentary lifestyle we lead today can have all sorts of serious implications for people’s health. According to the World Health Organization, over 2 million deaths per year are attributed to these factors. From increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure to becoming prone to various forms of mental related illness. However, out of all these, the most common issues people experience are those related to back pain. 

No matter whether you’re in your 20s or in your more mature years, the consequences of leading an inactive lifestyle can slowly start to pile up until you stop and do something about it. Experiencing back pain is a health condition that many people suffer from. While some turn to massage therapy when back pain becomes too much to bear, others prefer to wear specific types of back braces for pain relief. But how do you know if these are for you?

When Is a Back Brace Needed? 

To know whether these health measures will be beneficial in your case, it’s best to first get evaluated by your doctor who can advise you and properly determine the severity of your back pain case. Purchasing a back brace support is often prescribed in addition to non-surgical treatments that can benefit from braces. Before we go on and list some of them, let‘s first have a look at the different types of back braces on the market.

How Many Types of Back Braces Are There? 

Back braces are generally categorized into three categories, including flexible, rigid, and semi-rigid. Knowing the features of each one of them can help you buy a back brace that accommodates your specific needs. After all, wearing a back brace that is not suitable for your specific case may only worsen your pain and postpone the healing process.

Rigid

As their name suggests the rigid back brace is often worn in case of severe pain or in after-surgery cases. Wearing this type of back brace support can help minimize the pain and assist in the healing of spinal fractures or after back surgery. These braces work by limiting the excess motion at the fractured segments and help alleviate the damage done to the joints, nerves, and muscles. 

Rigid braces usually feature metal or plastic uprights in the back that mirror the shape of your low back and pelvis. To help in transferring the weight of your spine they also have straps of fabric that place pressure on the abdomen.

Semi-Rigid and Flexible

Compared to them, the semi-rigid and flexible ones are used in less severe cases. For instance, conditions like spondylosis and osteoarthritis are often recommended some of these two types of braces. They work by reducing the pressures on the affected joints by alleviating the pain and making everyday movements easier.

Flexible back braces are usually made out of soft materials such as cotton/elastic blends, canvas, or neoprene. They are often found in various designs including corsets, lumbar belts, and sacroiliac belts. They also come in a variety of sizes available for different body shapes. Flexible corsets and lumbar belts can help relieve lower back pain by applying light pressure to your torso to help adjust the posture and shift the weight of your spine and the weakened or injured muscles. They are similar in appearance to a woman’s corset and allow for some limited bending and twisting.

What Are the Benefits of Wearing a Back Brace?

Improve Your Posture

Wearing back braces can be especially helpful in certain conditions that should be often determined by your doctor. Most often a back brace support is recommended for people who have bad posture. These may be the result of doing indoor jobs or sitting in a slouched position for long periods. People report reduced back pain and improved posture after wearing them for a certain period. Back braces are specially designed to encourage correct body posture and proper spine alignment. However, including some kind of sport and physical activity is a must if your job is desk-bound.

Spine Stabilization After Trauma or Injury

Often times the recovery process after sustaining some kind of injury or trauma can be long and painful. In severe cases, surgical procedures are often required. As part of the post-operative treatment, some people are advised to wear a special type of back support brace to help in the post-healing process. Although pain medication is often administered as part of the therapy they’re often recommended to wear a back brace to keep their spine aligned correctly. 

This is very important in the after-surgery process as it minimizes the risk of disrupting the healing process and helps the person recover faster. Patients often need to learn how to walk, sit, stand and dress and all these activities put added stress on the back. They‘re often helped by physical therapists who teach them specific techniques on how to cope with this period in their lives and help them apply some of these techniques so they can learn to perform some of them on their own.

Prevention of Back Pain or Injury

While wearing a brace helps lots of people who have back pain, some people are advised to wear them even before they experience any kind of pain. Most often these are people whose jobs are at high risk of developing any spinal injuries. Often these are professions that include construction workers, auto mechanics, manual labourers, factory workers, and so on.

For instance, construction workers often spend their days outdoors performing activities such as climbing, lifting, pushing, and pulling. They also need to be in certain body positions for a longer period of time, using certain tools with repetitive motions. All these aspects increase their risks of getting hurt and injured in the workplace. In order to keep their posture in proper position and prevent injuries, they are advised to wear the braces as a protective measure against getting hurt in the workplace.