Daily laborer or weekend warrior…how to do prepare
for spine-demanding chores? What do you do when you must relocate a weighty box? Reach
for the back brace or brace yourself? The “brace yourself” alternative
may be the better approach! The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR proposes
back braces for back pain patients who may be helped by
their support. We also suggest self-controlled actions
to Colorado Springs back pain sufferers to safeguard the spine
when its use is demanded (hefting boxes, digging
holes, raking, etc.)
BACK BRACES FOR BACK PAIN PREVENTION:
Not All It Seems
Asymptomatic workers were told to wear back belts at work with the aim of decreasing
low back pain or injury. 1380 published medical studies were considered.
Reviewers uncovered no consistent evidence for back brace
use to stop low back pain or occupational back pain in
workers. Absenteeism was not decreased with back
belt utilization either. (1) Mind you, this review was of back
brace use by asymptomatic workers. In this situation,
the back belt is not for everyone. Now for Colorado Springs back pain sufferers, the back belt has
advantages. Non-rigid lumbar support belts are reported to help
non-specific low back pain sufferers with their pain and disability. (3)
Deciding whether to use a belt or not is where
your Colorado Springs back pain specialist at The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR comes in to determine what is best for each back pain sufferer. Each Colorado Springs
back pain sufferer – office worker, factory worker, family manager, etc. - is distinctive
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 demonstrates that a back brace may benefit some but not all.
ABDOMINAL BRACING MAY WORK BETTER
Abdominal bracing is a self-controlled,
pre-activity motion, a deliberate way of enhancing
spine stiffness to limit spine displacement before
doing a spine-demanding task. It seems to
work according to researchers! Abdominal bracing is individually
controlled. In a recent study, abdominal bracing significantly lessened
sagittal plane motion from the lower thoracic spine (T12) throughout
the lower lumbar spine (L4L5): by 45% at L4L5, by 94% at L1L2, and 50% at L5S1.
Such self-bracing activated all abdominal and back
muscles. Flexion motion was limited at most
of lumbar spine levels when sudden trunk flexion
demands are encountered with abdominal bracing. (2) It is
worth knowing how to do! The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR is eager to show
you how to do this worthy move as part of your Colorado Springs
chiropractic treatment plan!
SPINAL MANIPULATION WORKS FOR BACK
PAIN
The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR offers
a comprehensive chiropractic treatment plan for those times
when the back pain just will not stop. When work duties
or chores leave 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 The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
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
recuperated from her back pain episode with The Cox®
Technic System of Spinal Pain Management and even be able to
shovel snow!
Schedule your Colorado Springs chiropractic
appointment soon. We help our Colorado Springs workers and
weekend warriors prevent and recover from spine
pain.