Low back pain is one of the most expensive non-life-threatening problems treated by the medical community. According to the 1997 National Health Survey, there were 12,731,000 individuals in the U.S. with low back pain impairment - an average of 70.3 per thousand of the entire American population. As the number of cases continues to rise both in frequency and number, the insistence on effective conservative treatments has continued to grow.
The goal of bracing is to provide the patient, therapist and physician with an opportunity for effective therapeutic treatment of low back pain. Bracing is indicated for medical purposes to support or to immobilize fractures, strains or sprains of the trunk of the body, or as an adjunct to postoperative physical therapy.
Brace treatment should be considered to achieve the following goals:
- To assist the patient in gaining an understanding of, and use of, proper body mechanics in daily activity
- To provide pain relief, improvement in function, and prevent further injury
- To allow the patient to participate in reconditioning and rehabilitation therapy
- To reduce the recovery period
- For wound protection and proper body mechanics following surgery
EZBrace LSO
The EZBrace is indicated for pain relief, improvement in function, as well as prevention of further soft tissue injuries secondary to chronically poor body mechanics.
Adjunct to Medication Therapy
Many individuals, after taking medication which masks the acute pain from injury, unwittingly continue to function in the same manner that caused the initial injury. The EZBrace provides support to the muscles, ligaments and skeletal structures of the back, reducing load on the injured soft tissue. It protects the patient from improper posture, flexion, extension and rotational movements that may expand the injury or extend the healing time.
Adjunct to Physical Therapy
Daily patient use of EZBrace during the prescribed therapy period involves the patient in the rehabilitative process by educating and alerting the patient to use proper body mechanics during their activities. The EZBrace can enhance patient compliance to prescribed therapy by encouraging balanced movements, good posture, and the avoidance of injury causing hyper-loaded flexion/rotation movements.
Adjunct to Postoperative Physical Therapy
Advancements in minimally invasive surgical techniques provide the patient immediate relief of pain, rapid discharge from the hospital, and marginal wound care concerns. Although these patients are particularly vulnerable to re-injury, they commonly attempt to return to the pace of the workplace or other daily activities. It is recommended to provide the postsurgical patient with a device to assist them in taking an active role in their recovery and to prevent further injury. Daily use of the EZBrace is recommended for all postsurgical patients during the standard follow-up period. The clinical goal is to educate the patient to use proper body mechanics.