Buy back bandage (lumbar support)

Buy a back bandage: Back supports have been around for many years and are designed to help protect the back.

Buy a back support: What is a back bandage?

Back bandages are a type of orthosis that are used to improve the back. An orthosis, as defined in Wikipedia; “is a medical device used to stabilize, relieve, immobilize, guide, or correct limbs or trunk”.

There are different types of back bandages, for example those with reinforcing elements or those made of pure foam which are pure bandages. Back bandages with reinforcing elements are used after accidents, for example, to create a certain stability. These are usually made individually by the specialist trade. In the following we will only talk about back bandages which are made of foam and which are used to treat less specific syndromes such as back pain or incorrect posture.

Also not discussed in this article are the so-called back holders, under which some people see products that are usually sold as straight holders.

back bandage Advantages: what is the use of a back bandage

As always first the question why a back bandage? How does a back support help? Do back supports work?

Back bandages are not a panacea, but can be very helpful in many cases. In the following I will quote some opinions from an article in US News and then studies. The article quotes Scott Bautch, president of the American Chiropractic Occupational Health Society:

“People who have mild to moderate subacute back pain should put on a back orthosis as soon as their symptoms begin. Inactivity or immobilization is the worst thing for a back. You should stay active and a back brace can help.”

The expert is also quoted in the article:

“In the course of his 30-year career, according to Bautch, hundreds of patients have worn lumbar supports. None of them developed any problems except for a handful who had mild skin irritations with part of the back support rubbing against their body, says Bautch. He solves this problem by having his patients wear an undershirt between the lumbar support and their skin.”

In science, of course, the subject has also been investigated.

In September 2016 the study “Lumbar support and nonspecific low back pain: Evidence for daily practice” investigated the topic. Specifically, 28 studies on the subject of back support were examined for their results. An excerpt from the result was translated:
“The lumbar support had an effect on function, pain and relative time intervals in the administration of drugs with subacute back pain. It was also effective in secondary prevention with a likelihood of recurrence of back pain.”

In October 2016, researchers in “Low back pain sufferers: Is standing postural balance facilitated by a lordotic lumbar brace?” also investigated the corrective effects of a special back support. A translated extract from the study reads as follows:
On the antero-posterior axis, the lordosis support achieved a 6 mm CP deviation from its mean position and a reduction of the mean shift by 51% before the start of the posture control mechanisms.
This means that this particular model even had a corrective effect.

At the end of 2016, the study “A non-randomized clinical trial to assess the impact of nonrigid, inelastic corsets” also investigated commercial back bandages (= non-rigid, inelastic corsets). It determined;

“that the lumbar function determined by self-reported and objective measurements does not deteriorate if a non-rigid, inelastic bandage is used for a short time for people with or without back pain. These data complement the existing literature, which assumes that in short-term use of non-rigid, inelastic bandages in acute LBP spinal function is not reduced when measured separately with subjective or objective instruments.”

This study thus confirms that such bandages at least do no harm.

Finally I quote from a new study from 2018, “Effectiveness of lumbar orthoses in low back pain: Review of the literature and our results“.

[…] the authors of this study are of the opinion that the use of back supports / orthoses has no side effects and is beneficial for the patient. Treatment regimens that include the prescription of improvements in functionality, pain reduction and patient compliance.”

Buy a back support: Frequently asked questions about the back support (FAQ)

I have severe back pain. Can I stop this with a back support?

If you have severe pain, you should go to the doctor quickly and seek professional help. If the back pain is even so bad that you can only move with severe SC difficulties, go to the doctor as soon as possible. In certain cases, a back brace can help as part of the therapy, but only qualified staff can tell you that.

Where do my back pains come from?

There are many possible sources of back pain. First of all, you should be aware of exactly what kind of pain they are:

• muscle pain
• Stinging pain
• pains coming over the leg.
• pain that worsens when bending, lifting, standing, or walking.

In many cases it goes away by itself, but one should not underestimate this pain. You should see a doctor immediately if you continue to experience symptoms such as diarrhoea or fever. If the pain is gone within a week, it is referred to as acute back pain. If the pain lasts more than three months, it is referred to as chronic pain.

There are many reasons, from incorrect posture to more difficult topics such as kidney stones, an abdominal aneurysm or even cancer. Doctors usually treat pain with the aim of strengthening the patient’s core muscles and supporting the spine so that the pain does not recur. These could be reasons to buy a back brace.

Specific Reasons for Back Pain

• Muscle and ligament strain: Repeated lifting of heavy parts or sudden unfavorable movement can lead to strain on muscles and ligaments and cause painful back tension.
• Skeletal irregularity: Abnormal curves, defects, or abnormal bone sizes in the spine can lead to back pain.
• Spine arthrosis: Ageing, genetics, and wear and tear can cause the joints of the spine to develop arthritis and cause pain and stiffness over time.
• intervertebral disc: The soft material inside an intervertebral disc can lose cells or become inflamed and cause pain in the lower back. A disc bulge or tear can press on a nerve and cause leg pain.
• Infection and tumor: Certain infections and tumors that affect the vertebra or spinal canal may cause back pain.
• Sacroiliac joint pain: At the point where the lower spine and pelvis connect, inflammation or wear and tear over time may cause pain in the buttocks or back of the thigh.

How should I use a back bandage for back pain?

First you should find a suitable back bandage. There is a lot to choose from for the non-rigid, non-elastic models. As mentioned above, back supports do not cause any damage, so you can buy a back support online. Of course it has to be put on correctly. Here is a video:

In general, the bandage should be positioned in such a way that all surface areas come into contact with the back. On the other hand, it should not be too tight as it should not restrict breathing. The bandage should also not be worn for too long; a few hours a day are good. Here, too, a certain variation should be left when wearing the bandage. It is important to work on strengthening the core muscles at the same time. Likewise, you should not put too much strain on your body when wearing a back support.

Buy a back support: What is the benefit of a good posture with a back support

Obviously a good posture is the “right” one, so ideally it avoids further problems and future pain. That is why it should always be the goal. Specifically:

• Less fatigue, as muscles are used more efficiently and the body can consume less energy.
• Hinders back pain and muscle pain.
• Bones and joints remain in the correct orientation so that the muscles are used correctly.
• Abnormal wear on joint surfaces is reduced
• load on the ligaments that hold the joints of the spine together is reduced
• preventing the spinal column from becoming trapped in abnormal positions

-The end result is a “good look.” Mens sana in Corpore sano.

What actually happens if you maintain a bad posture?

Many of us know the consequences of bad posture. Here again enumerated:

• pain
• Inability to stand for long
• Problems when running
• Future complications