Back Braces – What They Can And Can’t Do

A back brace is a passive treatment or preventative measure that many people rely on during different parts of their day, but it’s not a perfect solution for any and all back issues. There are a number of things that a back brace simply cannot do, and if you have misconceptions about the device, it may not be aiding your spine issue as you had hoped. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at what a back brace can and can’t do for your spinal discomfort.

What Back Braces Can Do

Let’s begin by looking at some of the reasons why a patient may turn to a back brace to help with their spinal issue.

• Pain Management – A back brace can provide some mild to moderate relief from back pain. The brace provides additional support and can take some stress and pressure off sensitive areas of your spine that may be contributing to your pain.
• Limited Movement – If movement is causing your discomfort, a back brace will restrict how far you can twist or turn your spine, in turn limiting painful movement.
• Posture Improvement – One reason that many people turn to a back brace is to help improve their posture. Different back braces can make it easier for a person to have improved spinal posture. If posture problems are the root of their spinal discomfort, some time with a back brace can help them develop healthier posture positioning.
• Better Spinal Stabilization – A back brace can provide some additional stability to your spinal complex, and while that likely won’t solve all your instability-related issues, it can help to slow the progression of certain conditions. For example, a back brace won’t completely correct scoliosis or a curvature disorder, but can keep it from worsening at an expedited rate.
• Post-Surgery Support – Many people appreciate the added support a back brace can provide if the patient is dealing with temporary weakness caused by a surgical procedure.
• Passive Progress – Finally, a back brace can be a nice compliment to a treatment regimen because it can provide passive benefits without the patient needing to dedicate time to the treatment technique. You can experience the benefits of a back brace while you’re working at the office, driving in your car or laying down in bed. Conversely, you only reap the benefits of physical therapy for as long as you pursue the activity.

What Back Braces Can’t Do

A back brace can be a wonderful option for many patients, but it’s not a perfect stand-alone solution to your spine problems. Here are some things the device can’t do:

• Address Underlying Problems – The biggest issue with a back brace is that it does not treat the underlying problem. It is great at relieving symptoms, but it doesn’t address the root concern, like muscle weakness or spinal instability. A back brace can make it easier to pursue some active treatments, but it won’t fix the root cause of your discomfort.
• Limited Movement – Limited movement can be a good thing as evidenced above, but it can also be a detriment to your spine health. If movement and flexibility is limited for too long, certain structures can atrophy, in turn limiting your functional capability. It’s possible to have too much of a good thing when it comes to back braces.
• Replace Muscle Strength – A spinal brace can provide additional support to an area where muscle strength is lacking or impacted after a surgery, but it can’t build muscle strength on its own. You’re going to need to work to restore or develop spinal muscle strength with other treatments like exercise or physical therapy.
• Reverse Curvature Disorders – Finally, as we mentioned in the above section, a back brace may be recommended for a curvature disorder like scoliosis or kyphosis, but just know that this treatment will not reverse the damage that has been done. This treatment is designed to stop or slow continued progression, not reverse a curvature problem.

If you’re interested in learning more about spinal braces to see if one might be right for your situation, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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