Whether you’re improving posture, managing chronic pain, or healing from a short-term injury, choosing from the most suitable back braces is the place to start. There are different types of braces out there and each one is designed to provide targeted support that will let you enjoy all of your desired activities without reinjuring yourself. However, if you’re still not certain which is the best brace for your needs, learn about all the different options before making your choice.
Depending on your daily activities, poor body posture can come as a result of certain muscles tightening up while others lengthening and becoming weak. Many times, poor posture develops as a result of accidents or falls. But bad postures also develop due to other factors such as environmental factors and bad habits. If you are suffering from a bad posture, it’s important you consider the help of a back brace.
A back brace can be described as a device designed to limit spine movement in cases of post-surgery fusions and fracture. These specially designed devices can also be used as preventive measures against conditions that might lead to back pains and disorders.
As mentioned earlier, a back brace will limit the movement of your back and ensure that you maintain the right posture. It ensures that your back is straight and doesn’t bend due to work or bad habits. There exist different types of back support devices that focus on certain parts of your back. There are braces that are designed for lower back while others for upper back. Each of these devices is designed to serve its specific purpose. The most important thing to consider when buying a back brace is where you want to the brace to focus on.
Shoulders Back Posture Support
This back brace focuses on the upper back and shoulder region. It was initially designed for horseback riders and its ideal for lower back pain and muscle strain that lead to poor posture. This brace has many advantages such spine realignment, strain relief and other respiratory benefits, all this is made possible with its ability to teach your shoulders and back stand taller and straighter.
Saunders Posture S’port Support
This back brace focuses on the full back and shoulders. Its unique make and design discourages stooping of shoulders and assist in the realignment of the spine. The crisscross suspender-like straps allow the shoulders, spine and lower back be neutral positioned to lower back and shoulder pain.
ProLite Lo Plus Lumber Support
This is an ultra-thin belt that provides back pain relief for those with chronic back aches such as muscle weakness or lumber strain. Its unique design allows it to stabilize the lumbar back area inconspicuously. It also helps get rid of pain and lumbar instability symptoms and spin sprain.
Posture Aid Clavicle Splint
This back brace focuses on the upper back and shoulder region. This posture support with a figure 8 to it helps improve your posture and the avoidance of a long-term back problems by retraining your muscles. It’s important to consult your doctor before the purchase of any of the stated Back braces.
How to Use Back Braces
Back braces might not offer a permanent solution to back pain but they definitely help in the recovery process. They help by providing extra support to your lumbar spine and muscles. Keeping your back in the right posture, helps in preventing the herniated disc from bulging and touching your spinal nerves. For this reason, it helps lessen the pain brought about by this condition. Back braces will help support your back as you continue with your daily activities such as bending and stretching. It helps reduce the strain on the back muscles as you bend or stretch due to its stable nature.
Before leaving the orthopedics office, ensure that you get instructions on how to apply your brace since it is required that you wear it all the time unless otherwise instructed. Until your spine is fully healed which may be as short as 6 weeks or extend to as long as 4 to 6 months, it is advised that you remove your braces only when you sleep and put it back before getting out of bed.
Steps to apply braces
- Start by lying flat on your bed.
- Detach the two parts of the brace.
- Roll over sideways to align your shoulders, hips and knees.
- Apply the rear side of the brace properly to your back.
- Cautiously and slowly roll over to your back to apply the brace.
- Then, apply the front part of the brace to the belly. Secure the straps firmly starting from the bottom until the top to your comfort.
It is advised that you loosen your straps to allow expansion of the abdomen while eating. Since generally the human body will get sweaty and uncomfortable, it is also important that you know how to care for your brace to keep it clean. You may clean and refresh your brace with a mild soap and wet cloth and then let it dry. If your brace has fabric padding, then ensure to dry it with a hair dryer on cool mode to ensure the inside is not dump.
Your brace will restrict movement of the spine but allow mobility of other parts of your body hence it is important that you avoid bending or straining your spine. If you are moving from a lying to a standing position, roll over to the side and use your arms to support you up to a sitting position before you can stand. Also important is to always follow your doctor’s and physiotherapists’ instructions and guidelines.