Do you suffer from back pain or a curve, and those close to you advise you to use back strap To get rid of the pain? Find out everything you care about, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to choose the best type through this article.

What is a back belt?

Lots of people suffer from Back pain Because of injuries or because of certain diseases that affect the back, but you will be surprised that the vast majority of them suffer from this pain because of the wrong body positions and carrying things in improper ways.

Here comes the role of the back belts that work to support the back and maintain its position and avoid twisting and bending in it while sitting, walking or standing, but you should know that it is not supposed to be worn all the time but should not be worn more than two hours a day because it may cause some damage as well .

Types of back straps

There are 3 basic types of back braces:

• Elastic belt: Which works to support a light back during exercise and while sitting at work, but does not limit movement.
• steel beltIt is designed with metal or hard plastic parts to provide full support for the back and limit back movement to the maximum degree, which the doctor prescribes in serious medical conditions or after certain surgeries.
• Semi-rigid beltIt also contains some hard parts, but in certain parts so that it allows some movement while giving the necessary support. This type is often used with cases of improving body posture and with treatment of mild and moderate back pain.

Back belt benefits

There are a lot of advantages that you can get when you wear the belt for the allowed time, such as:

• Limit movementReducing back movement may be beneficial for the back and the spine. Reducing unnecessary movement may be very useful for avoiding back pain, especially in the event of a spinal injury or surgery. Back stabilization may be very necessary to recover from some pathological conditions.
• Improving body posture and curvature of the back: The spine is supposed to remain straight and the shoulders are pulled back with the chest raised in a natural way, but because of the wrong body positions. Therefore, the belt works to keep the back, spine and shoulders in proper and straight positions.
• Avoid back painThere is no one who does not suffer nowadays from back pain all the time, which causes difficulty in coexistence with it and difficulty in doing many daily activities, and the causes of back pain are many and differ from one person to another according to its degree of severity, and as we mentioned, the belt works to prevent unnecessary movement of the back as well. It strengthens the important parts of the back and thus relieves back pain.
• Strengthening the back and abdominal muscles By maintaining the correct position of the back without bending and thus keeping it tight.

Medical conditions that the back belt helps treat

Wearing back braces may help with recovery and relieve pain in the following cases:

How do you choose the best back belt?

Almost all types of back corsets contain the same parts. Solid and semi-rigid corsets all contain the same metal or plastic parts. They also contain the side wings that you use to tighten the belt on both sides. They also contain the hard metal plate at the back that supports the spine. It should have markings to set the wires and supports more precisely.

There are several factors that you should take into consideration when purchasing a back brace, as follows:

• The material used must be cohesive and not prone to stretching with the movement of the body, and it must also be moisture resistant.
• Size and body fit should be adjustable.
• The degree of support, which will be determined by the doctor or physical therapist, depending on the purpose of the belt.

How to wear a back belt properly

• Make sure to wrap the wings of the belt on both sides, adjusting the tension to your body size.
• You can ask for help from another person while wearing the belt, especially the steel belt that comes with the spine support so as not to cause pain and sprain.
• Adhere to the doctor’s instructions for how long to wear the belt, and if you should remove it only at bedtime.
• It is best to wear it over a cotton shirt so as not to cause skin irritation and redness.
• Before wearing it and after taking it off, be sure to clean and dry the area well from dust and perspiration.
• Avoid applying any skin care products or moisturizing creams under the belt to the skin, so as not to cause irritation and inflammation.

Back belt damage

There are many reservations that some doctors have regarding the long-term use of back braces, which are:

• Atrophy of some muscles around the spine due to lack of use and movement of the muscles and ligaments, especially with the rigid support that limits movement.
• With the rigid support belt worn in a certain part of the back such as the lower back, you may have to move and load another part of the back incorrectly, causing pain and possibly injury.
• With the long use of the belt, and with the lack of movement of the muscles and ligaments, the spine may become weak and fragile due to its lack of movement, and with the lack of wearing the brace, the back cannot rely on the spine for natural support, which leads to injury.
• The belt may not be very effective in the case of a bowed back, in the case of adolescents who use it Back curvature treatment belt which works to prevent further curvature, they may need surgery to straighten the back later despite wearing a belt.

Finally, you should consider consulting a doctor before wearing a back belt if you really feel pain or notice an abnormal curvature of the back so that the doctor gives you the best advice and instructions on wearing it, so you get the best results from it without unwanted side effects.

Read also: Get rid of back pain in different ways