10 Best Posture Braces To CORRECT Your Bad Posture

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Obviously, the purpose of posture braces or a back brace is to correct your posture and keep your shoulders from slouching forward causing more stress on the lower and mid-back.

For those of you that work on a computer for the majority of the day know just how painful bad posture can be.

In this post, we review some of the best posture braces and back braces for lower back pain.

10 Best Posture Braces and Correctors

Causes of Back Pain

There are a number of causes of back pain – diseases, injuries, mechanical problems, etc. The most common and often neglected causes are poor posture in sitting or standing for a prolonged period and, lifting and moving heavy things in the wrong way.

These make unnecessary back strain. The reason why the back, especially the lower back, is directly affected by the pain is that it functions to support most of your upper body weight. When your spine is not aligned correctly, your back muscles, ligaments, and joints undergo extra stress, and over time this leads to back pain.

This is the reason why proper posture is very important for preventing or alleviating your back pain. So if you’re sitting, like you are now: make sure you are in the ergonomically correct position. Keep your feet flat on the floor.

Adjust your chair right. If your chair doesn’t come with lumbar support, use some type of cushion for back support. If you are going to pick up a heavy object below your waist level, bend your knees, not your back.

Why proper posture is Important

While proper posture is a good way of avoiding and reducing back pain, oftentimes we forget to give attention to our posture.

Proper use of back support may ease your pain by providing adequate support to your back as you go along with your daily activities, such as sitting on your office chair and working on your deadlines, bending over to lift equipment, or even when you’re out driving for a vacation.

There is an array of back support you can choose from, you can have back support belts, back support pillows, back braces, and back stretchers, and so on.

The Back Support Belt

The back support belt, originally used in rehabilitation therapy, has now been used by some athletes and industrial workers to help them reduce back strain in weightlifting. The most common type of belt support is the lightweight, elastic belt that is worn around the lower back area that can be held in place with suspenders.

In theory, this device reduces forces on the spine, increases the abdominal pressure that adds support to the spine, and stiffens the spine. So all in all it aims to provide better spine support, holding it in its proper alignment, reducing stress, and therefore alleviating the resultant back pain.

But keep in mind that if you don’t lift objects properly, you are still at the risk of getting back strain.

The Back Support Pillow

The back support pillow, for example, is used when seated to fill in the gap that is created between the lower spine and chair.

This helps you to have a proper curve in your lumbar spine and allows you to relax by alleviating strain on the back and the pain that goes with it.

Along with the other types of support such as the back brace and stretcher, all back supports mentioned aids in improving posture and relieving back pain.

While it is recommended that there be future research on the back belts preventing back injuries, most people found back supports useful to get the ergonomically correct posture and to alleviate back pain.

How to put on an LSO – back brace for low back pain

Do Posture Braces Work?

Yes, they do!

Posture braces aid in pulling the shoulders back while putting some pressure on your middle back causing your midsection to be forced outward. This simple application of force ultimately leads to better posture.

Not only are posture braces used by people looking to improve their posture, but they are also used by many industries where having good form is a must.

One such industry is dancing…there are many dancers that use a posture brace so they can be less cognizant of keeping proper form through there routine.

Types of braces

1. Trochanteric back brace

When a 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 backbone 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 shoulder support.

4. Hyperextension back brace

Hyperextension braces are used when we want to prevent excessive bending of the spinal cord. Actually, these braces prevent the bending of lumbar and thoracic parts of the spinal cord.

5. Braces for scoliosis

Scoliosis is the disease in which spinal cord deformation/curvature occurs especially in the adolescent age. To prevent this, different types of braces are used. Some of them are discussed below.

• Boston brace: It is used to correct the curvature of the spinal cord with the help of small pads present in it. These small pads are placed against the ribs thus provide back support.
• Milwaukee brace: This brace is used when thoracic curves are more in the spinal cord and cannot be treated by the 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 of the spinal cord. As scoliosis occurs mostly in the adolescent age so most of the braces available for scoliosis are for adolescents while spinecor brace is the only brace available for adults because scoliosis is less common in adults.

Benefits Of Using a Back Brace

With corrective posture brace you will benefit from less back pain, fewer tension headaches, increased circulation, and best of all correct posture will give you a sense of confidence.

This can be achieved with a simple posture brace and there are many on the market to choose from. Knowing as much as you can about these devices will help with your purchase, so let me walk you through some key points.

There are many manufacturers of posture braces such as Shoulders Back, Underworks, Benchmark, Footsmart, and FLA Orthopedics.

This is just a handful of manufacturers and there are several more. All provide great posture braces for unique situations. It’s recommended that you try several braces so you can find one that best fits you.

Yes, it’s a pain and you might spend more than you like, but all too often someone will go out with a posture brace only to not like how it feels on them. They do take time to get used to and you will feel some discomfort after the first couple of days of use. But, the longer you stick with the sooner you will be on your way to perfect posture.

Once you find a brace that you like I would recommend buying a couple so you can swap them out as you wear them. Wash one and have the others ready to go…they do tend to get a bit sweaty and washing them often is a must.

How often you wear your brace is up to you, I normally wear mine at least ten hours a day. Usually an hour before work, eight hours at work an hour when I get home.

Should I have a Prescription?

Its advisable to visit your doctor and get the correct diagnosis for your problem.

I would also like to add that posture braces are highly recommended by physical therapists and chiropractors, at least mine recommended the use of a brace.

The best to place to buy your brace will be one of the many online retailers. I can’t recommend a certain one, but there are plenty to choose from. The price of posture braces will also vary in range. I have seen some premium posture braces sell for as high as $$$ and the low being about $.

Using posture braces will help with correcting your posture. Posture braces are also good for helping the lower back pain as they will help support the back muscles.

Living with bad posture can be a pain and you need to look at posture braces as a tool to the end result which is correct posture, so go out there and buy some posture braces to get on the track to perfect posture.

Posture Support…Why Is It So Important

Posture support that leads to good posture is something as we get older get’s more important in our lives. Research has shown that the older you get the more likely you are to develop bad posture.

Elderly people develop what is known as Hyperkyphosis or dowager’s hump.

These types of prognosis can lead to difficulty breathing, depression, and severe back pain.

What we do in our daily routines is what eventually will lead to living with bad posture.

Living a healthy and clean life will aid in the prevention of bad posture. Focusing some of the posture exercises on this site will develop your back muscles in what will result in posture support down the road.

Stomach fat is notorious for putting extra strain on your lower and upper back. Not only posture support but all the other added benefits of leading a healthy now…will help you enjoy your golden years.

Yoga is a perfect outlet for developing spine alignment, reducing back pain, and staying fit. Before visiting a Yoga class be sure to talk to the instructor and tell them your focus and what you are looking to get out of the class.

Believe it or not, they have many classes targeting back pain and posture support.

Of course, a posture brace will aid also with all the above ways to increase posture support, but just note that’s it’s only one aspect of overall posture support.

Exercise Your Back

By also including an exercise regime you will not only be able to promote the correct posture of your spine, but you will also be reminded that you are wearing a posture brace.

This will ultimately promote that longed for improved posture. By wearing your posture brace for 30 minutes for five days will successfully make a difference to your personal appearance and your posture.

However, it is important that you avoid falling back into any old habits such as leaning forward by creating a slump to your back. It is also important that you do not forget that you are wearing your posture brace, as this may cause you to slump forward, ultimately making you revert to your old habits.

Home Remedies for Back Pain

In case your back pain is associated with numbness and weakness of limbs you should seek your doctor without hesitation.

If you are suffering back pain after sitting in your office chair for a prolonged period of time, you can consider appropriate back support.

Back support pillows and back support belts are simple yet fantastic ergonomic products for supporting your back and preventing further pain. If you’re suffering from back pain in terms of tightening and aching muscles or strain, there is a range of home remedies to treat it.

Simple Home Remedies

Here are a few simple home remedies which should help reduce your back pain:

Apply an ice pack – Using an ice pack within 24 hours of injury can help reduce any inflammation. Try and apply the ice pack for 20 minute periods with 30-minute breaks in between.

Have a hot bath – If you’re still in pain after 24 hours, an ice pack will not help. However, heat may help increase the elasticity of your muscles. Soak in your bathtub with hot water for about twenty minutes to help relieve your pain. Be aware if you are pregnant, you shouldn’t bathe in extremely hot water as it can increase your risk of miscarriage.

Keep moving – The old advice for back pain was to get as much bed rest as possible, in fact, some doctors still suggest this. Modern research has shown that lying down for an extended period can actually worsen your back pain and keeping active is the best option for your back. If you really feel desperate to rest your back, you should lie flat on your back with two pillows beneath your knees. It is not recommended to spend more than three days in bed as prolonged bed rest weaken your muscles and thus more prone to pain and injury.

Ergonomics – Is your chair ergonomic? Does it have proper back support? If not, invest a back support pillow. They are usually inexpensive and easily available online.

Moving heavy – Avoid moving heavy objects by yourself. If you don’t have a helping hand, use a trolley, cart, and back support belt.

Buy a new mattress – Make sure your mattress isn’t making your pain worse. If you have a soft or sagging mattress your back problems may be worsened. You need a hard well-sprung mattress to keep your back healthy.

Sleep – When your back muscles are strained you need as much good rest at night as you can get. The best position is sleeping on your side with pillows between your knees. If you prefer lying flat, consider a hard surface.

Relax – Back pain is often partly due to emotional stress. Learn and practice a relaxation technique and spend a few minutes every day dedicated to your relaxation.

Get a massage – If you’re lucky enough to have a friend or family member who can perform a good massage, ask their help! Otherwise, consider paying a professional masseuse to massage the tension out of your back.

10. Take aspirin – Taking two aspirin or ibuprofen may help relieve your pain. You need to check you are allowed to take these medications. Some people including pregnant women and people with existing health conditions shouldn’t take medicines without checking with their doctor.

Conclusion

If you’re experiencing tightening and strains in your back try any of these methods to see if they help your pain. However, if you’re experiencing serious pains, weakness, or numbness in your legs or any issues with your bowels you need to see your doctor immediately.

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API