Spinal support garments are used to restrict movement to promote healing after surgery and prevent re-injury. These garments are also used to compensate for muscle weakness during the rehabilitation process and to keep the afflicted area warm, which helps reduce pain. Various types of garments are prescribed by doctors after surgery and should be used as prescribed.
Time Frame
Different surgical procedures have different rehabilitative protocols. Lumbar fusion requires spending six months or more with a brace or back support while the bones fuse to the prosthesis. Microdiscectomy procedures are considered less invasive and have faster recovery times of three to four months. Speak to your doctor about the restrictions you have based on your procedure, your age and your general heath. The length of time that rehabilitation garments are required varies from patient to patient.
Types
The University of Maryland Spine Program notes there are more than 30 types of support garments for spine conditions. There are several options designed to protect the lower back after surgery. Sacroiliac and lumbosacral belts are cotton belts reinforced by lightweight stays that create pressure on the lower back and stabilize it. Corsets may be short or long, starting at the top of the hips and extending up to the mid-chest. A corset restricts movement and may have suspenders to provide added support when in position. Hyperextension braces prevent you from bending too far forward or backward.
Benefits
Surgical procedures involving your back, hips or groin area require movement restrictions. Doctors don't want excessive twisting or turning to rip open incision sites. Procedures involving tissues that don't receive extensive blood flow, such as discs and tendons, require time to heal. The wrapping also keeps the back warm, serving like a moderate heating pad. This promotes circulation, which aids in the healing process.
Risks
Writing on the Spine-Health website, Theodore B. Goldstein, M.D., says that patients who return to work too soon risk a recurrence of disc herniation. But giving patients more mobility sooner may speed healing, he notes. One of the concerns regarding bracing for too long is muscle atrophy, which prevents the stabilizing muscles from properly developing around the injured area. Patients and their doctors should discuss a gradual stretching and strengthening physical therapy program after surgery to prevent atrophy or loss of flexibility.
Post-Rehab Considerations
Even after you are given the OK to stop wearing the prescribed back support garment, other back supports can help reduce stress on your back during daily activities. Using a lifting belt when moving heavy objects helps you maintain correct posture. Lifting belts are often soft and allow flexibility but increase abdominal pressure to support the spine through the lift. Lumbar supports, though not a garment, assist in maintaining proper posture when you're sitting a computer or in a car for extended periods of time.
