Adjustable Back & Abdominal Support
C$57.85Try the Mueller Adjustable Back & Abdominal Support and enjoy the extra security it offers for over-stressed back muscles.
Lower back pain (LBP) is the most common reason for missed work days by North American adults. Also commonly referred to as low back pain, it is one of the most common injuries most of us tend to experience at some point in our lives.
The lower back is the region that sits below your rib cage. It is also called the lumbar region. This part of your back plays a critical role in everyday activities such as walking, twisting, turning or even just standing up. It also supports your head, spinal column and upper body and provides a conduit for the spinal column nerves carrying sensations between your lower body and your brain.
To perform these tasks, the lower back contains a complex and tightly interlinked network of muscles, nerves, bones and other tissues. It is the complexity of this network that makes the lower back so susceptible to injury and the resulting pain.
The complexity of the network can also sometimes make it difficult to detect the exact source of lower back pain and its cause.
According to Arthritis & Rheumatism magazine, between 9% and 12% of adults are suffering from LBP at any point in time. Approximately 25% of adults report experiencing it over any one month period. Worldwide, about 40% of adults report experiencing this pain at some point in their lives. This figure is generally believed to be higher in wealthy countries (possibly due to their older populations).
In most cases, the onset of lower back pain is between the ages of 20 and 40 and it tends to affect men and women equally. The highest prevalence of this condition is observed between the ages of 40 and 80. This means that lower back pain is expected to have a greater impact on society overall as the population ages.
Because LBP is not a specific injury or disease, it can arise from any of a wide variety of underlying problems. In fact, as we shall see below, it sometimes arises without any specific causes that doctors can identify.
For the same reason, the symptoms of low back pain can vary widely from one individual to another. The longevity, severity and even the location of the pain can be very different depending on the underlying cause. In addition, the accompanying symptoms (other than the pain) can be very different.
Although LBP is a widespread problem, the good news is that it tends in many cases to be a short term problem that can be eliminated with simple home based treatments. Sometimes, a brief bed rest or change in patterns of activity can be all that we need to make it go away in a short period.
However, it is important to be aware that, in some cases, the underlying causes can represent very serious (and even life threatening) problems. Consequently, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as it becomes clear that the causes of LBP may be more than just transitory
In what follows below, we shall consider the various possible underlying causes of low back pain. The nature of the pain and how it varies depending on the underlying cause will also be discussed. We will then consider the various home based, non traditional and surgical treatment options for each type of LBP.
The main possible causes of LBP include the following:
Back sprains & strains contribute to a large proportion of LBP cases. Heavy lifting, for example, can easily cause the muscles and ligaments in the back to become overstretched or even torn. When this happens, the symptoms are likely to include pain and stiffness in the lower back area. In some cases, you may also experience muscle spasms from this type of injury.
Back pain due to this cause is normally referred to by doctors as “mechanical” pain.It is also likely to be acute low back pain that lasts less for a relatively short period if treated properly. With adequate rest, physical therapy and other home based treatments, LBP from a sprain or strain can go away in as little as 6 weeks in many cases.
One way to avoid this type of back injury and the associated LBP is to lift with proper technique, i.e. by bending your legs rather than your back. This technique will transfer much of the pressure of lifting from your back to your stronger quadricep and hamstring muscles. The result will be less risk of a back sprain or strain injury.
Poor posture is another widespread cause of lower back pain. Many of us, particularly when sitting for long periods, tend to allow our shoulders to hunch forward instead of keeping them straight. Some individuals also do this while standing or walking.
This sub optimal posture eliminates the natural curvature of the lumbar region. In addition, it results in too much of the weight of our upper bodies being borne by the lumbar spine. Over time, this can result in a sore and painful lower back.
To treat this type of lower back pain, we can wear an upper back or posture brace that gently reminds us to keep the shoulders straight. Doing this will restore the natural curvature (lordosis) of the lower back and reduce the pressure on it from the upper body.
Lumbar supports can also help to maintain proper lordosis when we are forced to sit for extended periods (such as during a long car or plane trip).
Spinal discs are rubbery pads that sit between the vertebrae of your back and are held in place by the ligaments and muscles surrounding the spine. The discs serve to keep the vertebrae separated so that they do not rub together, which would be very painful.
The spinal discs can sometimes suffer an injury in which the inner material of the disc starts to swell and push through its outer casing (membrane). As a result, the nerve roots exiting from the spinal cord can be compressed. The result can be extreme pain, sometimes accompanied by muscle spasms. Furthermore, the pain from the trapped nerve can sometimes migrate away from the lower back and enter an arm or leg.
The lower back pain from this type of injury is likely to be more long term than that from a back sprain or strain. In addition, it is unlikely that home based self care will yield any benefits other than pain relief.
Sciatica is a special case of the herniated disc problem mentioned above. In this case, the herniated disc presses on the sciatic nerve that connects the spine to the legs. As a result, your lower back pain radiates down to your legs and feet. The pain is of a “burning” nature and can also sometimes feel like “pins and needles”.
The LBP caused by herniated discs tends to be classifiable as a chronic low back pain, as it is longer term in nature than the pain from a strain or sprain.
This is a result of the narrowing of the spinal column that compresses the spinal cord and nerves travelling through the column. It is another form of chronic LBP.
Stenosis can itself be a result of damage to the spinal discs. If they degenerate over time, the spinal column can narrow in such a way as to compress the spinal column and nerves.
The LBP due to spinal stenosis is usually accompanied by numbness, cramping or weakness in the lower back or elsewhere.These symptoms tend to be more severe when you are walking or even standing.
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that is usually diagnosed during childhood. This curvature causes lower back pain and other problems similar to those we have described above in relation to poor posture.
This puts pressure on the soft tissues and vertebra of the lumbar region, leading to low back pain.
Some types of lower back pain are due to inflammatory conditions in the lower back such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis (a rare type of arthritis that tends to cause inflammation between the joints of the spine).
In some cases, patients experience lower back pain with no cause that is apparent to their doctors. In these cases, the treatment options focus on pain relief without addressing any underlying causes.
Other potential causes of lower back pain include:
To determine the cause of your LBP, your doctor may need to:
If your LBP continues after a couple of weeks of home based treatment and seems to be sub acute or chronic in nature, your doctor may decide to order additional tests:
If the initial part of your examination does not reveal anything that is chronic in nature (such as a herniated disc) your doctor may decide to try a period of self care at home:
If these treatments do not ease your lower back pain, there are some additional options that doctors can try:
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Other non traditional approaches that you may wish to try at this point include:
If your LBP is severe and resistant to the treatments mentioned above, doctors may bring up the option of surgery. Although it is usually a last resort, surgery will usually be considered at an earlier stage if there is an indication of a serious or life threatening problem such as cancer.
The specific surgical procedure will depend on the underlying cause of your lower back pain. However, some of the key surgical options include:
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Try the Mueller Adjustable Back & Abdominal Support and enjoy the extra security it offers for over-stressed back muscles.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Adjustable Back Brace with Lumbar Pad features a removable lumbar pad for targeted lower back support, an internal molded plastic component to eliminate rolling or bunching and two outer elastic tension straps for adjustable support. You also benefit from additional back stability and support from the supporting springs positioned along your spinal column. This brace is a great treatment for lower back pain or for sprained, strained or aching backs.
The Mueller Posture Corrector helps you maintain poor posture and avoid back pain and features additional padding, a one strap adjustment system and vertically sewn seams.
The Model 250 from BodyMed is an analog tens unit that comes with many safety features such as protective caps for the user control knobs and a timer. It comes with all accessories needed for its operation and offers exceptional value for money.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Back Brace, White is a comfortable and lightweight solution to back sprains and strains, an arthritic back, moderate disc conditions, muscle spasms, sciatica, chronic unstable lumbar spine or for strains of sacroiliac area. Equipped with a 9 inch wide elastic band, a large foam pad and supportive steel springs. The pad conforms to your lower back area and supports your back in the most critical areas. There is also a second 6 inch wide outer elastic band to secure the pad and provide additional back support.
SIZING: (Measure around waist) SM 28 – 32″ (71 – 81 cm) MD 32 – 36″ (81 – 91 cm) LG 36 – 40″ (91 – 102 cm) XL 40 – 44″ (102 – 111 cm) XXL 44 – 48″ (111 – 122 cm)
Targeted compression for effective back pain treatment
The Bio Skin Back Flex is a simple and effective treatment for a variety of causes of lumbar pain. it is also helpful as a post-procedural treatment for stabilization, compression, and cold therapy. The brace includes two hot/cold gel pads that attach to the lumbar panel to enhance patient comfort and maximize pain relief.
The patent-pending design of the Back Flex provides unrivaled support and pain relief to the lower spine. The solid lumbar panel is attached to a mechanically-advantaged cinching mechanism which provides adjustable pressure to the lumbar spine. Because the cords attach the side panels to the back panel, engaging the cinching mechanism focuses the compression on the spine and provides better support than is possible with other designs.
Pain relief and stabilization. Promotes proper positioning during healing.
The Bio Skin Back Plus combines the pain relief of compression with therapeutic stabilization after an injury or a medical procedure to promote proper positioning. Includes two hot/cold gel pads that attach to the brace’s lumbar panel for additional comfort and pain relief.
The Bio Skin Back Skin – Standard Cut helps to treat lumbar sprains, overuse pain and muscle strains and also improves posture.
The Bio Skin Back Skin with Flexible Support helps to treat lumbar sprains, overuse pain and muscle strains and also improves posture.
The Bio Skin Back Skin – Standard Cut helps to treat lumbar sprains, overuse pain and muscle strains and also improves posture.
The Bio Skin Back Skin – Standard Cut helps to treat lumbar sprains, overuse pain and muscle strains and also improves posture.
The McDavid Back Stabilizer helps to protect you from back strains and pulls, courtesy of its 6 steel stays strategically positioned to give you maximum support. The brace’s vented elastic side panels also feature hook and loop closures for a custom fit and superior comfort.
The LP Back Support With Stays provides support for your mid and lower back with no sacrifice of range of motion. It also provides support from its four pliable stays. These stays also provide constant warmth to your lower back muscles to promote healing and mitigate any back spasms that may be present. If you…
Use Mueller’s Back Support with Suspenders to combine the health benefits of suspenders with less pain from sore and overworked back muscles.
The Bio Skin Baja 627 provides unrivaled lumbar support and pain relief, allowing you to return to normal activity. It has a double lacing system with the two banks of pulleys positioned on the sides of the torso. When the patient engages the cinching mechanism, the posterior panel is drawn forward, focusing the compression on the soft tissues that support the spine.
A recent study using the bilateral cinching mechanism of the Baja 627 showed an average reduction in VAS scores of 40% and a 41% improvement in Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire scores in patients with chronic low back pain.
Chattanooga’s Cefar Basic TENS machine has 3 preset programs and is designed to meet all basic pain relief needs through transcutaneous stimulation.
The LP Clavic Brace will help you improve your posture by strengthening your neck and upper back muscles to help you keep pressure off your lower back and avoid pain in that area.
The Mueller Sports Medicine EASYfit® Kinesiology Tape applications are designed to be simple to use and can help relieve certain overuse injuries. Three (3) applications in each package for the knee, shoulder, foot/arch, calf/ankle/neck and waist/back applications. Six (6) applications in each package for the X & Y pattern applications.
The EmbraceAir Deluxe back support is adjustable to match the amount of support you need and is capable of changing the angle of the spine by as much as 18 degrees.
The Prop Air Sleeper continually adjusts to your energy levels and helps reduce your stress level and ease low back and neck pain
The Mueller Green Back Brace helps protect against lower back pain, fatigue and weakness while providing optimal support. One size.
The LP Industrial Back Support features flexible stays that help ease stress and pressure on your lower back. This type of stress can come from tasks like frequently lifting heavy objects in the workplace. The Support also has 4 inch side pulls that offer uniform support and compression. In addition to flexible stays and side…
The Innotech Inline Seating has a natural wooden frame and premium quality 30-year foam to cradle the behind and uniformly distribute body weight.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – 30m Continuous Roll features Mueller’s revolutionary wave adhesive pattern for effective rehabilitation of sore, weak or damaged muscles or joints.
Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – 5m Continuous Roll is a great choice for rapid rehabilitation for your sore, weak or injured muscles and joints. With its revolutionary wave pattern adhesive, it will lift your skin as you move to optimize your circulation and promote early recovery to full health. You cn wear it for up to 5 days at a time. Made from pure high grade cotton. Latex free, highly elastic and breathable in order to perform its “lifting” function more effectively.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – I-Strip Roll will help you to treat ligament and other soft tissue injuries as well as repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel.
The InnoTech LumbAir Plus back rest offers adjustability, comfort and portability. If you suffer from lower back pain, the Lumbair Plus is worthy of careful consideration. The Lumbair Plus is designed for bucket seats but you can also use it in airplane seats. It features a rubber bulb that you can squeeze to increase support…
Motion Medicine helps to reduce pain and swelling from muscle soreness or injuries and also increases your range of motion.
The PostureMedic Posture Perfector will help you specifically target the neck and back muscles that play a key role in maintaining proper posture and avoiding lower back pain.
The Kinesio Pre Cut Starter Set includes one each of the Kinesio Pre Cuts for the wrist, knee, back, foot, neck & shoulder.
Use Kinesio Pre-Cut Application tapes for treatment of various repetitive stress injuries. As the pieces are pre-cut, you do not need to cut them before putting them on, which simplifies application.
Rub A535 is an easy to use analgesic designed for topical application for treatment of stiff and sore muscles and relief of joint pain.