Many people deal with back pain on a regular basis, but the good news is there are ways to keep it in check. This is all the more important when you consider that back pain is statistically likely to recur within 12 months of its onset. But first you should establish the cause of your pain, and a doctor can help you identify it sooner.
Out of the wide variety of reasons that can lead to back pain, injury and poor posture are the first to spring to mind; the latter is very common, and can cause an array of problems, besides back pain. In both cases, limited bed rest is recommended to prevent muscle weakness. Physiotherapy can help, and if you need further relief from pain, you can take an anti-inflammatory. The wide range of posture braces for children, teenagers and adults can also help correct spinal alignment and strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, while reducing the associated back pain.
Support for the back, shoulders and pregnancy belly
The aim of a good brace is to encourage postural awareness, and thus correct slouching, but in order for these posture correctors to help you gain and maintain good posture, they must first fit properly. It is important to make sure to measure correctly; with some braces you need to know the dimensions of your waist, while with others the size of your chest. Most braces range from S to L or XL, feature adjustable strapping, and those that also have shoulder straps come with padding for extra comfort.
It is important, however, not to overuse your posture brace and only wear it as your doctor recommends or as instructed in the accompanying manual. What you risk with prolonged use is weakening your abdominal and spine muscles even further, and thus make your already poor posture worse. However, back braces are useful if worn appropriately and can help you get back to work and your other daily activities sooner.
Most clavicle support braces aim to improve back and shoulder posture and pain via an over-the-shoulder support that aligns your clavicle and pulls your shoulders back, but that must be gentle enough to be used even by people suffering from osteoporosis. Moreover, the brace reminds you to stand straight by applying pressure in the middle of your back, thus ensuring a long term effect on your posture. Note that especially this type of braces that run under your underarms might feel uncomfortable initially, that is why manufacturers recommend fitting them loosely and gradually tightening them down as you become accustomed with them.
When back pain is caused by pregnancy, women can try wearing a maternity back brace that wraps around the waist and hips like a sling to provide gentle belly support. Make sure to look for a brace that is made of a breathable and soft material that prevents heat from building up; these braces are designed not to affect the baby in any way, but if you are worried, discuss the matter further with your doctor.
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