Back brace

A back brace is a device which is designed to limit the motion of spine to enhance the healing process for bone in fractures or in post operative fusions. Limiting the motion of spine also minimizes pain and discomfort. Two types of commonly used back braces are rigid [hard] braces and elastic [soft] braces. Rigid braces are form-fitting plastic molds which will be able to limit approximately 50% of the motion in the spine. Rigid braces are often used in treating the bone fractures and also used after a fusion surgery. Rigid braces are heavy and should be worn when patient is up but can be removed when lying down. Elastic brace limits the forward motion of the spine and assists in setting spinal fusion. These elastic braces limit motion in the back while fusion sets up by not allowing patient to bend forward. And also, elastic braces provide support to the spine during occasions of stress such as lifting heavy loads. Usually, people with jobs that involve heavy lifting wear elastic braces.

Back braces are also prescribed to treat scoliosis in adolescents and children. They may stop progression of spinal curvature in growing children and adolescents. In some cases of scoliosis, they may help to reduce the amount of curvature in the spine. Different types of brace styles are available, the Boston Brace is commonly used to treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. In united states other designs include Charleston bending brace, Milwaukee brace and spine-Cor brace. Back braces can also solve other back related disorders such as disc bulging, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, kyphosis, mechanical back pain, myofascial pain, radiculopathy and spondylolisthesis.

- Boston brace is a symmetrical brace which corrects curvature of the spine by pushing with small pads placed against the ribs. When a person is seated, this brace opens to the back, and runs from just above a chair's seat to around shoulder blade height and it should be worn 22 - 23 hours a day.

- Milwaukee brace is made with a harness-like hip area and metal strips rising to the chin. There are corrective thrusts given with large pads between the hips and chin. Milwaukee brace provides little rotational correction. This brace is used for very high thoracic curves which are severe and out of range of the Boston brace. Typically, it is worn 20 - 23 hours a day.

- Charleston bending brace fights against the body's curve by over-correcting. This brace grips the hips like Boston brace but pushes the patient's body to the side. It is beneficial to the patients with flexible curves. Charleston bending brace is used in patients of 12 to 14 years old, before their structural maturity.

- Spine-Cor brace is the only widely-used elastic brace currently, and it is most successful when patient has small and simple curvatures. The pelvic unit of this brace has strong elastic bands which can wrap around the body and pull against curves, rotations and imbalances. And also, this brace pulls down against shoulder misalignments which compress the spine. Spine-Cor brace is usually worn 20 hours a day and patient should not remove it for more than 2 hours at a time.