The effect of wearing a back belt on spine kinematics during asymmetric lifting of large and small boxes

Efficacy of orthotic support in mitigating low back pain and disability in low back pain sufferers

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent disabling ailment that affects people all over the world. A wide variety of orthotic designs, ranging from lumbosacral corsets to rigid thermoplastic thoraco-lumbosacral orthosis are used for managing LBP.

OBJECTIVE

Explore and summarize quality literature on the efficacy of orthotic devices in the management of LBP.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the efficacy of orthosis in low back pain management conducted using electronic databases. Studies utilizing orthotic management alone or combined with other therapies for 2 weeks or above were included. A meta-analysis was performed on primary and secondary variables using Mean difference (MD), Inverse variance (IV), and fixed effect model with 95% CI, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool were used to assess the quality of evidence and the risk bias.

RESULTS

Out of 14671 studies, only 13 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) were deemed eligible for inclusion in this study, all level 1 evidence. We found that orthotics could significantly mitigate LBP (P-value < 0.00001). Similarly, a significant reeducation in LBP-associated disability was observed after orthotic intervention (P-value 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Lumber orthosis plays a significant role in LBP and associated disability mitigations in sufferers of LBP.

The influence of weightlifting belts and wrist straps on deadlift kinematics, time to complete a deadlift and rating of perceived exertion in male recreational weightlifters: An observational study

Both weightlifting belts and wrist straps are commonly used weightlifting training aids but their effects on deadlift kinematics and performance were still not known. This study examined the effects of weightlifting belts and wrist straps on the kinematics of the deadlift exercise, time to complete a deadlift and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in male recreational weightlifters.This study used a repeated-measures, within-subjects design. Twenty male healthy recreational weightlifters (mean age ± standard deviation = 23.1 ± 2.5 years) were recruited from 2 local gyms and the Education University of Hong Kong between January and April 2021. All participants used various combinations of belt and straps during a conventional deadlift. The hip and knee flexion, cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angles and time to complete a deadlift were measured using video analysis software. RPE was also recorded.Wearing both a belt and wrist straps was found to reduce knee flexion angle (P < .001), but not hip flexion angle (P > .05), during the setup phase of the deadlift compared to wearing no aid. Wearing straps alone exaggerated thoracic kyphosis in the lockout phase of the deadlift compared to wearing a belt alone (P < .001). No changes were seen in cervical and lumbar lordosis angles when using any or both of the weightlifting aids. Additionally, the participants completed deadlifts faster when wearing both a belt and straps (P = .008) and perceived less exertion when wearing a belt and/or straps (P < .001).Weightlifting belts and wrist straps, when using together, have positive effects on the kinematics of deadlift, time to complete a deadlift and RPE in male recreational weightlifters. Trainers should recommend the use of a belt and straps together, but not straps alone, to recreational weightlifters when performing deadlift training.

The effect of lumbar support on the ultrasound measurements of trunk muscles: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of lumbopelvic belts on the thickness of lateral abdominal muscles and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of lumbar multifidus (LM) muscles.

DESIGN

A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

An academic and tertiary care referral spine and sports medicine center.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty healthy volunteers with no history of low back pain in the previous year.

METHODS

The subjects were allocated into belt and control groups. Lumbar belts were given to the subjects in the belt group, and they were asked to use the belts during the study period except during sleeping hours. The subjects were assessed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The thickness of lateral abdominal muscles and the CSA of the LM muscles were measured by ultrasound with the patient in the hook-lying position on an examination table.

RESULTS

The thickness of lateral abdominal muscles and the CSA of LM muscles on both sides decreased significantly among healthy subjects in the belt group after 8 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show that lumbopelvic belts might influence the ultrasonographic measurements of lateral abdominal and LM muscles and thereby spine stability.

Effectiveness of a lumbar belt in subacute low back pain: an open, multicentric, and randomized clinical study

STUDY DESIGN

Multicentric, randomized, and controlled study of clinical evaluation of medical device in subacute low back pain.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of an elastic lumbar belt on functional capacity, pain intensity in low back pain treatment, and the benefice on medical cost.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

There is limited evidence of efficiency of lumbar supports for treatment of low back pain. There is also a lack of the methodology in the studies reported on the efficiency of this device.

METHODS

This study is randomized, multicentric, and controlled with 2 groups: a patient group treated with a lumbar belt (BWG) and a control group (CG). The main criteria of clinical evaluation were the physical restoration assessed with the EIFEL scale, the pain assessed by a visual analogic scale, the main economical criteria was the overall cost of associated medical treatments.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-seven patients have participated. The results show a higher decrease in EIFEL score in BWG than CG between days 0 and 90 (7.6 +/- 4.4 vs. de 6.1 +/- 4.7;P = 0.023). Respectively significant reduction in visual analogic scale was also noticed (41.5 +/- 21.4 vs. 32.0 +/- 20; P = 0.002). Pharmacologic consumption decreased at D90 (the proportion of patients who did not take any medication in BWG is 60.8% vs. 40% in CG;P = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

Lumbar belt wearing is consequent in subacute low back pain to improve significantly the functional status, the pain level, and the pharmacologic consumption. This study may be useful to underline the interest of lumbar support as a complementary and nonpharmacologic treatment beside the classic medication use in low back pain treatment.

Effect of a Back Belt on Reaching Postures

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the effect of a back belt on reach actions.

SUBJECTS

Sixteen undergraduate college students (8 male students, 8 female students) ranging in age from 18 to 22 years. Thirteen subjects were included in the final analysis.

SETTING

The Department of Psychology at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

METHODS

Using a well-established set of procedures developed in our laboratory for studying reaching, seated adult participants reached for and retrieved an object placed at various distances from them. Reach distances included values both closer than and farther than each subject's maximum seated reach. The reach task had 2 conditions: picking up and retrieving a small block and skewering and retrieving a small bead with a needle. For each task condition, each subject either wore the belt or did not use a belt.

RESULTS

Results indicate that when subjects wore the belt while reaching, they tended to have initial transition points (sitting to nonsitting) closer to their bodies than while not wearing the belt. That is, for a distant object, subjects were more likely to raise their bodies out of the chair rather than perform an extreme seated reach, possibly acting to preserve a greater margin of safety.

CONCLUSIONS

The back belt consistently modified reaching postures by limiting extreme ranges of motion during a task that required enhanced stability. Furthermore, the methodology and analysis presented in this article when applied to chiropractic will allow us to begin thoughtful investigation of the effects of chiropractic adjustments on postural transitions and margin of safety.

Physiological effects of back belt wearing during asymmetric lifting

This study investigated the effect of wearing a back belt on subjects' heart rate, oxygen consumption, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and respiratory frequency during asymmetric repetitive lifting. Thirty subjects with materials-handling experience utilized three different belts (ten subjects per belt). Subjects completed six 30-min lifting sessions--three while wearing a belt and three without. Data analyses were conducted on the second, third, and fourth lifting periods. A 9.4 kg box, without handles, was lifted 3 times/min, starting at 10 cm above the floor, ending at 79 cm, with a 60 degree twist to the right. Data analysis indicates that belt-wearing did not have a significant effect on the overall mean values for heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and respiratory frequency. Belt-wearing had a significant effect on the overall mean oxygen consumption of the subjects.