A back brace is a medical device used to provide support to the spine and limit its range of motion especially after spinal surgery, back injury, or to slow down the progression of certain chronic conditions. There are different types of back braces that have been designed for different situations and conditions. While some are made of soft and flexible material others are more rigid and limit motion much more strictly.
Back braces are convenient for a wide range of everyday activities that involve sitting or standing. If you're wondering what advantages a back brace can offer you and why you may need ones then read on!
What Are the Benefits of Using a Back Brace?
Here are a few popular advantages of using a back brace:
They Alleviate Back Pain
Back pain is becoming an increasingly common issue in today’s world. Most people will have experienced some form of back pain once before they turn forty. This condition can range from mild and merely irritating to severe pain which leaves you bedridden depending on the cause and degree of the injury. Mild back pains are usually due to minor posture imbalances while severe ones can occur due to injury to vital areas of the spinal column. One might find that the pain aggravates with certain degrees of posture changes. A back brace assists in keeping the spine and the intervening discs closely applied end to end to avoid excessive displacements. It also holds the back muscles in place, hence preventing unnecessary movements of parts of the back that might cause them pain and promotes better posture.
Immobilize Injured Parts
Excessive spinal movements may not only certainly prolong the healing time of a spinal column injury, but they may also make it worse. However, if one can maintain a certain posture and keep the musculature steady, recovery will be significantly faster. A back brace can play the role of a stabilizer to the injured area. Softer braces can help to hold the abdomen as well as the back musculature and reduce mobility. Hence the back is prevented from over-stretching itself beyond a certain degree. This is essential to the healing of back injuries.
Stabilize Weak Areas of the Back and Strengthen the Core
If you're looking to build a stunning physique, or improve your core strength, you would like to consider adding a back brace to your list of fitness equipment. In addition to the spine straightening effect of a back brace, it can also help to give quality to your core. Your core refers to an important group of muscles located deep within your trunk and which ideally should function as the major weight-carrying muscles, not your back. Hence, it should be sufficiently powerful to perform this job. Unfortunately, most people, even fitness enthusiasts, offend overlook the importance of the group of muscles leading to back injuries and poor posture. This is where a back brace comes in. It tones up the weakened areas of the back to measure up to the average back muscle tone and compresses the abdomen to give strength to the body's core, giving you an overall stronger, slimmer, and more efficient physique.
Provide Overall Support
In general, a back brace holds up the different parts and regions of the back and keeps them from making disjointed movements. Your physiotherapist might prescribe it as a part of treatment for certain spine problems ranging from mild scoliosis to severe spinal fractures. However, you can wear it around a normal spine to enhance posture or give extra support. They help to prevent strain on the back during sitting or standing, especially when carrying out strenuous chores or exercise.
Lowers Pressure and Back Strain During Heavy Lifting
Like I stated earlier, back braces are convenient for different situations and activities. Whether you're at work, school, on a bus, or in the kitchen, a back brace can serve to keep your spine and trunk muscles working in tandem without unnecessary shifts. Chances are you might want to lift a heavy piece of equipment at work, you would like to wear a brace especially if you've had a previous back condition. Many back problems have been reported to have resulted from incidents at work or home where the patient tried to raise a heavy thing that wouldn't budge, and in the process, they had their spine or tail bone slightly shifted out of position.
Improves Posture
Bad posture can affect your spine in a myriad of ways. Experts advise that we stand or sit erect with the hands hanging free beside the trunk and the shoulders laid back casually. Your chest should out and forward, and your tummy tucked in. However, very few people adhere to this as we spend hours bent over all sorts of electronic screens. This defective body alignment is often the underlying factor in many spine troubles and difficulties with moving parts of the trunk. Studies have revealed that using back braces can improve one's posture. Since an average back brace helps to enforce the same alignment of the body to the right posture, in that it pulls in the tummy and keeps the spine erect, it can offer much assistance in maintaining the right body posture.
It's Comfortable and Easy to Use
Compared to some bulky awkward medical aides that might stick out a mile to show that a person has them on, back braces are wonderful apparels you can wear and yet not feel uncomfortable in every sense of the word. However, you should ensure you select the best fit for you. This means that it must not be too tight-fitting on the body, nor should it be loose. You should be able to breathe properly in a back brace and also wear your clothes on it. Back braces come in different sizes, shapes, and designs. Some types might be noticeably covered under clothing, while others may not be perceptible. You can easily fasten them on and take them off when you want without an extra pair of hands.
Bottom Line
Back braces can serve many purposes. They are very helpful as support braces to the spine and trunk muscles, especially for people who experience back pains due to injuries. Also, they can be applied in everyday chores and activities including heavy lifting and movements of the trunk. When you set out the buy one, you should keep an eye for good fit and comfort. A back brace can make a great companion when it's just the right one for you.