Do Back Braces Work? What You Need To Know

This is a question that often comes up for patients who suffer from lower back pain and are looking for options to relieve themselves of it. The simple answer would be to wear a brace, but the reality is that there are several things you should know before you rush out to buy one. First, let's talk a little bit about what a brace does and how it works.

A back brace is a highly effective tool for supporting the lumbar spine while recovering from an injury or while you feel some form of pain in your lower back. The goal is to provide enough support to allow the abdominal and gluteal muscles to rest so they can heal and strengthen and return to their role in keeping the spine supported and stable.

Do back braces work to be used as a preventative measure? Well, they are the most commonly utilized tool to provide relief from low back pain for a short period during an injury recovery process.

Typically, back braces are used to treat muscle strain and spasms in the muscles of the lower back. They can also be used for other injuries such as a herniated disc or fracture.

A back brace typically works by providing adjustable compression which helps reduce pain and swelling while supporting your lumbar spine and surrounding muscles thereby reducing stress on your lower back.

Back braces are designed to provide a compressive force that limits your range of motion and stabilizes the spine, much like how a piece of elastic would stabilize an object in the water. This is advantageous because it allows the muscles to heal without straining them further and it takes the pressure and tension off of your spine and places it on the brace instead.

A back brace is a type of orthotic device that limits or restricts movement to prevent further injury to the spine. Braces serve as a temporary measure so while you are recovering from an injury, they help promote proper alignment and stabilization of the spine by supporting your trunk muscles and lower back.

A brace will help support the part of your spine that needs extra attention while your muscles and ligaments recover from an injury. This added support helps distribute body weight more evenly across the injured part of your spine, which will decrease the pressure you put on these issues while they are trying to heal. In turn, this will help relieve your pain and discomfort by reducing the stress on your lower back.

In general, a back brace is something that should be worn only when recommended by a doctor or a physical therapist after a specific injury has been diagnosed. Braces are not a cure for back pain, but rather a way to make your body more comfortable while you wait out any discomfort or effects of an injury before they subside. They are only worn temporarily and should never be used as a permanent solution. For questions, ask Dr.Zachary Langgle.

Who May Need Back Braces?

Patients who have had a previous injury or illness that has contributed to their back pain and those who are pregnant may benefit from wearing a brace. A brace can help provide support by limiting movement, which in turn will cause muscles to relax and rest so they can heal quickly.

In addition, pregnant patients tend to experience a great deal of low back pain, and a brace can help reduce this discomfort while putting less strain on the muscles of the lower back.

People who have chronic low back pain or suffer from more serious conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis may also benefit from the added support a brace provides to their lumbar spine area. While it is important not to use a brace in place of exercise and activity, it can be helpful when discomfort is too great to engage in these things.

Finally, people who are recovering from back surgery may elect to wear braces during their healing process. Since low back injuries can cause chronic pain if not treated correctly, the post-surgery recovery period is a good time for patients to wear a brace and allow their back to heal and adjust.

While proper precautions and doctor recommendations should always be followed, wearing a brace for added spinal support is not necessarily harmful or dangerous as long as certain cautions are taken into consideration:

Do back braces work without a doctor’s advice? Wearing a back brace should only be done when directed by your doctor. Wearing a back brace won't be effective unless you are committed to following the advice of your doctor or physical therapist. Wearing it only sporadically will not promote healing and wearing it improperly can lead to more discomfort.

What Are The benefits?

The most common benefit of back braces is that they can provide much-needed pain relief. Depending on the cause of your injury, you may be prescribed to wear a brace for several months or longer.

If you are not completely healed when you first begin wearing the device, it is important to continuously wear it so your condition doesn't worsen and become more painful.

Another benefit of wearing a brace is that it may improve your posture. Since you will be limiting the movement of your spine, you will naturally begin to stand up straighter and pull in your stomach muscles. This in turn will help reduce strain on your back, promoting better health overall.

Wearing a brace can also provide support during the healing process. Your doctor will be able to recommend the right brace and explain its benefits and limitations so that you can be as comfortable as possible during your recovery.

Finally, there is evidence that suggests wearing a back brace during everyday activities such as housework or gardening may help prevent back injury. If you enjoy these types of hobbies but tend to experience pain after engaging in them, a brace can help keep your back protected from the heavy lifting that these activities require.

In some cases, wearing a brace during a specific activity may make a difference as to how long it will take for you to fully recover. But, it is important to understand that no brace is going to cure your pain or heal your back entirely. That is why it is important to see an expert like Dr.Zachary Langgle of Prime Health + Wellness in Downers Grove, IL. To answer the question you had in mind. 

If you have been prescribed to wear a brace, be sure to ask your doctor about ways your condition could improve from the added support so that you can get the most out of wearing a device. If possible, try to wear it as much as recommended so that you can heal as quickly as possible and decrease pain.

And just as with any other type of recovery, you are more likely to benefit from wearing a brace if you are committed to eating healthy, exercising regularly, and doing whatever else your doctor recommends. Wearing a device alone will not solve all of your problems, but it can help make the recovery process feel less daunting.

Ice Packs are an effective and inexpensive solution that can help reduce inflammation and swelling, while also providing relief. Instead of purchasing a more expensive cold pack from your local drugstore, you can easily make one at home by filling a plastic bag with water and freezing it until the liquid is solid.

Chiropractic Intervention

If you are diagnosed with a related condition, your doctor may recommend that you try using a brace to help manage and relieve the discomfort and swelling that result from back-related injuries.

Do back braces work on your back pains? While no guarantee wearing a device will solve all of your problems, it can be an effective tool for promoting faster healing while the inflammation and pain from a back injury may not go away completely after wearing a brace, you can find relief with help from your doctor.

After determining the best course of action to take concerning your injury, your doctor will likely recommend certain lifestyle changes and/or chiropractic care as part of your home treatment plan. Chiropractic treatment may include a series of adjustments that can be used to reduce discomfort and promote healing.

If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, arthritis, or another back-related problem that can be treated with adjustments, your doctor may recommend a series of visits to a chiropractor. During these therapy sessions, the doctor will manipulate your spine into proper alignment before providing relief from pain and discomfort.

If you are interested in trying chiropractic treatment as part of your home care plan, contact your doctor today to learn more about how it could help manage and relieve back pain.

If you are not already experiencing the benefits of chiropractic treatment, now may be a good time to consider it as an option.

Evidence-based practice is becoming more popular with doctors and patients because of its ability to address many conditions through natural methods. Complementary techniques that are often used with adjustments can also help promote faster healing and relieve symptoms of back pain for some patients.

You can ask Dr. Zachary Langgle of Prime Health + Wellness in Downers Grove, IL, about the right chiropractic care plan for you, and how it might be able to help with your recovery. Visit their website at www.phwchiro.com for an appointment.

Conclusion:

Choosing the right back brace is a big decision with many considerations. Before you make any decisions, consult your chiropractors in addition to reading this post for more information on how braces work and which ones are best for specific types of pain.

At Prime Health + Wellness in Downers Grove, IL, they have helped countless people overcome their chronic back pains through personalized care and an individualized rehab plan that includes wearing a back brace as part of our treatment protocol.