(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- At any given time, 31 million Americans are suffering
from low back pain. It's a common problem, especially for people in
professions that require heavy lifting.
Many people attempt to remedy their lower back pain by wearing lumbar or
lower back supports -- the large supportive belts that can be worn around
the waist. But new research shows these belts are not particularly useful
for preventing low back pain. In fact, data shows lumbar supports are no
more effective than lifting education or no treatment at all in preventing
pain or reducing disability in those who suffer from low back pain.
Researchers at the Amsterdam School for Health Professionals in the
Netherlands looked at 15 studies that included more than 15,000 people with
low back pain. In an analysis that measured prevention of pain and number of
sick days used, they found no difference between people who used lumbar
supports and those who didn't use them.
"We recommend the general population and workers not wear lumbar supports to
prevent low back pain or for the management of low back pain," the study's
lead author Ingrid van Duijvenbode, was quoted as saying.
SOURCE: Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews 2008, Issue 2
