Daily laborer or weekend warrior…how to do prepare
for spine-demanding chores? What do you do when you need
to move a heavy package? Reach
for the back brace or brace yourself? The “brace yourself” alternative
may be the superior approach! Apple Country Chiropractic proposes
back braces for back pain patients who may benefit from
their support. We also suggest self-controlled activities
to Williamson back pain sufferers to safeguard the spine
when its use is demanded (moving boxes, digging
holes, raking, etc.)
BACK BRACES FOR BACK PAIN PREVENTION:
Not All It Seems
Asymptomatic workers were directed
to wear back belts at work with the aim of decreasing
low back pain or injury. 1380 published medical studies were reviewed.
Reviewers uncovered no consistent evidence for back brace
use to stop low back pain or occupational back pain in
workers. Absenteeism wasn’t reduced with back
belt use either. (1) Mind you, this review was of back
brace wearing by asymptomatic workers. In this circumstance,
the back belt is not for everyone. Now for Williamson back pain sufferers, the back belt offers
benefits. Non-rigid lumbar support belts are reported to help
non-specific low back pain sufferers with their pain and disability. (3)
The decision of belt use is where
your Williamson back pain specialist at Apple Country Chiropractic comes in to figure
out what is best for each back pain sufferer. Each Williamson
back pain sufferer – office worker, factory worker, family manager, etc. - is unique
and must be considered individually. Putting a back brace on all workers in an effort to decrease back pain for a few doesn’t
work as this paper shows that a back brace may work
for some but not all.
ABDOMINAL BRACING MAY WORK BETTER
Abdominal bracing is a self-monitored,
pre-activity motion, a voluntary way of increasing
spine stiffness to restrict spine displacement before
doing a spine-demanding job. It seems to
work according to researchers! Abdominal bracing is personally
controlled. In a recent study, abdominal bracing significantly lessened
sagittal plane motion from the lower thoracic spine (T12) through
the lower lumbar spine (L4L5): by 45% at L4L5, by 94% at L1L2, and 50% at L5S1.
Such self-bracing initiated all abdominal and back
muscles. Flexion motion was restricted at most
of lumbar spine levels when abrupt trunk flexion
demands are encountered with abdominal bracing. (2) It is
worth knowing how to do! Apple Country Chiropractic is prepared to show
you how to do this worthy movement as part of your Williamson
chiropractic treatment plan!
SPINAL MANIPULATION WORKS FOR BACK
PAIN
Apple Country Chiropractic offers
a comprehensive chiropractic treatment plan for those occasions
when the back pain just won’t go away. When work duties
or chores result in your spine - cervical, thoracic or lumbar -
hurting, The Cox® Technic System of
Spinal Pain Management combines gentle, relieving spinal
manipulation with specific exercise and nutritional advice to return
you back to life.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Jenna Kloor on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes the value
of helping a patient be able to do something like walking to help herself as she
recovered from her back pain episode with The Cox®
Technic System of Spinal Pain Management and even be able to
shovel snow!
Schedule your Williamson chiropractic
appointment soon. We help our Williamson workers and
weekend warriors avert and recover from spine
pain.