the myth of the lumbar corset

If you have suffered from chronic low back pain, the idea of a lumbar belt must have seemed appealing. The fact is many people use one and even get habituated to it.
The myth is if you have back pain, use a belt, it will help.
This unfortunately is far from true.

If worn for the wrong reasons, a belt can cause muscle atrophy. This further weakens your back and aggravates the pain. So you wear the belt more often. A self propagating cycle starts which ends in habituation to belt wear.

The web of the back says that belts may be used for

1. Patients with back pain when performing heavy work such as weightlifting. This is obvious to understand.

2. When acute back pain limits activity significantly. Here the belt is used to allow the patient to walk. Because walking around is a better idea than being bed ridden, a belt in such a scenario is useful.

3. For older patients, again only to allow them to return to normal daily activities.

4. For adolescents or children with scoliosis.

Most patients do not fall into any of the above categories.

The bottom line is use a belt if your incapacitated by pain, only if it allows you to move around and get rid of it as soon as you can.