Introduction of back braces
Back braces are special back supports which are usually used to limit the motion of injured spine. Healing process is disturbed if there is unnecessary movement in injured spine and back braces are ideal companion to limit the movement and thus help the healing process.
Not all the back pains are caused by spine problems. It may arise from the problems in vertebral discs, muscles, ligaments and tendons in the back area. Bulging discs, sciatica, arthritis and osteoporosis are common structural problems that cause back pain. The back braces used in post-operative patients are different from back belts you usually see in local pharmacy. The former is usually ordered by doctors or surgeons and is usually heat-treated plastic molded to the patient. The latter is usually made of neoprene.
Types of braces
1. Trochanteric back brace
When fracture occurs in the pelvic region then trochanteric braces are used to relieve the pain and enhance the healing of the pelvic region.
2. Lumbosacral back brace
This brace is used to support the lumbosacral region of the spine. The lumbosacral region is the lower region of the spine. Thus these braces are used to relieve the lower back pain of the back bone which is more common in those people who work continuously in the sitting position.
3. Corset back support brace
This the brace which is used for back support as well as for the shoulder support.
4. Hyperextension back brace
Hyperextension braces is used when we want to prevent excessive bending of spinal cord. Actually these braces prevent the bending of lumbar and thoracic parts of spinal cord.
5. Braces for scoliosis
Scoliosis is the disease in which spinal cord deformation/curvature occurs specially in the adolescent age. To prevent it different types of braces are used. Some of them are discussed below.
- Boston brace It is used to correct the curvature of spinal cord with the help of small pads present in it. These small pads are placed against the ribs thus provide the back support.
- Milwaukee brace This brace is used when thoracic curves are more in the spinal cord and cannot be treated by Boston brace.
- Charleston bending brace Patient compliance is more for this brace as this is used at night.
- Spinecor brace It is the only brace available for adults and used to correct the small curvature in the spinal cord. As scoliosis occurs mostly in the adolescent age so most of the braces available for scoliosis are for adolescent while spinecor brace is the only brace available for adults as scoliosis is less common in adults.
