What kind of back brace will work for my body type?

I need a back brace for my back pain. I have lower back pain (mostly due to the weight I have to carry on my chest ) but I have a little bit of a belly too. I have gotten a back brace before but it was all elastic and folded itself in half due to my odd shape.

It can be hard to choose the right back belt when you are having excruciating lower back pain. We frequently get questions about how to choose the right lumbar back support.

I would recommend a lumbar back brace called the "Lumbosacral Low back Support Belt " The great thing about his lumbar brace is that it comes in various sizes. When you measure your waist, don't suck your stomach in. You want a true representation of what your size is. Also when you have your measurement around your belly button and you are in between sizes, go for the larger belt. Sizes for this lumbosacral belt go between Small to 3x Large. Check out arc4life.com for more information.

You can also watch a video that shows you how to wear the lumbosacral back belt properly.

Sometimes a Stiff back Belt with a hard backing can be uncomfortable, so i do not recommend it. You want something that is going to make you feel supported and that you can wear under your clothing. You also do not want something that is going to ride up either. This particular lumbar brace creates an upward and inward pressure which supports the whole abdominal region and lower back region. It works great in different positions of movement as well.

These belts are meant to be worn short term, not long term. Yes they can weaken the lumbar muscles but only if worn for long periods of time. For short term, acute pain- the lumbar belt works great. Also, if you know you are going to be working using your lower back, put your belt on for added protection. It is important to work on keeping a strong back.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Lower Back Traction Products
• Portable Tens for Muscle Spasm
• How to wear a lumbar support belt for moderate to severe lower back pain, step by step instructions
• biofreeze natural pain relief gel for muscle spasms
• positioning products for pain relief

Visit us at Arc4life.com for more pain relief products.

Forward Neck Posture And How It Will Work Its Way Down The Spine…

One of the most common postural and spinal misalignments we see these days is forward head posture. This is when the head and neck are shifted forward from the center of gravity.

We’ve talked at length about forward head posture and how it straightens the normal cervical curve as well as how it can cause neck and shoulder pain, muscle pain, as well as other symptoms like headaches, numbness and tingling in the arms or hands, and more …

Today, however, our focus is going to be on other postures that are often linked with forward head and neck as well as the issues they create.

The first is rolled shoulders. This is when your shoulders roll inward. Similar to your head being forward, your shoulders being forward also pulls and tenses the muscles of the lower neck and upper back. This can often create pain in these areas as well as muscle spasm and trigger points.

What then starts to take place what happens to your mid-back spine (thoracic or dorsal spine)?

Your thoracic spine often gets hunched at the top because of the pull on your neck and shoulders and these muscles trying to balance the body.

As it works further into you lower body, it often causes low back extension. This happens because when our head goes forward, our body automatically tries to keep your eyes even with the horizon.

To do this, most often people with this posture tend to extend at their low back. This can now cause low back pain on top of your already sore neck.


Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.


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The Winter Weather is Here: Are you Shoveling Snow Properly?

Today in central Connecticut we had 6-10 inches of snow. We have a very long steep driveway, that needs to get shoveled by hand. Once in a while, our awesome neighbor will come and use his 4 wheeler with a plow hook up to plow our driveway, but we do have to shovel a few times during the winter season. Here are some tips to keep safe this season:

• Bend with the knees, not the back. When you go to pick up or move the snow, bend your knees. You may have to think about this the first few times, but your body will get used to.
  
• Brace shove handle against thigh to lift snow
  
  
• Use a good shovel with a with a bend in the handle. This allows you to stand up straighter as you push for less back strain.
  
  
• With heavy and wet snow lift smaller amounts of snow. Don’t try to push too much snow either, you can injure yourself just like if you tried to lift too much
  
  
• Do some gentle lower back stretches before you start to warm up and loosen up your muscles. Flex forward, extend back, laterally bend right, laterally bend left and hold each stretch for 10-15 seconds.
  
  
• Dress in layers and make sure you try to stay as warm as possible. It is very important to wear a hat, gloves, a scarf, and double socks. If you get cold, you muscles will tighten and you can more easily get injured when cold
  
  
• Wear a support belt if you suffer from back pain. Wearing a lumbosacral belt when you shovel will help you protect your lower back muscles. Here is a great article about how to wear a lumbar support belt: How to Properly wear a lumbar Support Belt for Moderate- Severe Lower back pain
  
  
• Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help
  
  
• Don’t be too cheap to get the driveway plowed- a back injury is not worth it if you have a back condition
  
  
• This applies to using a snow blower as well- let the plow do the work, do not try to push too much snow or move the snow blower to often with out using the motor
  
  
• If you know there is 6-10 inches coming, do some shoveling at the 2” mark and then again when the storms over. As snow sits it can get heavier, making it more likely that you may injure yourself. Fresh snow is lighter and much easier to handle. It is safest to shovel snow early, rather than waiting until the snow stops falling. If you wait, the snow may pack down to create an icy lower layer that is hard to scrape away. So shovel twice when the snow is 2 inches deep rather than waiting to struggle with the ultimate 6 or 8 inches.
  
  
• Take breaks frequently. This is no marathon against your neighbor. Your neighbor may have a 4 wheeler with a plow hook-up and you may just have your lonely snow shovel- its best to be as safe as possible.
  
  
  Shoveling snow in the New England area is inevitable during the Winter Season. We don’t like to do it, but we will because we have to drive out of the driveway and get on with our life. But snow shoveling doesn’t have to be painful and put you on the couch for a few days. Dress warm, rest frequently and keep an eye on the snow accumulation – and you will be safe this winter season.
  
  
  Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.
  
  
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Treating Children and Teens for low back pain with self training methods: A Study

Low Back Pain is common ailment in adults, but is also among children and adolescents. Exercise increases strength and endurance with positive benefits for Low back pain relief.

A new study released by Spine on September 29 by Dr. Laurie Barclay and Dr. Desiree Lie compared the effects of a self exercise program for low back pain in children and adolescents . This study found that lower back pain improved with treatment.

"LBP among children and adolescents has increased," write Anna Ahlqwist, MSc, RPT, from the Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Friskrehab, Göteborg, Sweden, and colleagues. "The literature shows that children with LBP also suffer from this condition as adults. Thus, it is important to prevent and treat LBP in children and adolescents."

It was the goal of the study to show how 2 different treatments administered to children and adolescents with Low back pain affect perception of health, pain, and physical function over time. For twelve weeks 45 children and adolescents were put into 2 groups:

• Group 1: received individual physical therapy and exercise and a standard self-training program and back education
  
• Group 2:a self-training program and back education but no individual therapy.
  

To measure how the children and adolescents did, outcome measures that were used:

• Child Health Questionnaire Child Form 87- this measures quality of life
  
• Children completed self-assessment scales on health-related quality of life and back function and questions about daily function, leisure time activity, and perceived pain.
  
• Roland & Morris Disability Questionnaire
  
• Painometer – a handheld pain measurement instrument, was used to measure pain intensity, quality, location, and duration.
  
• Back Saver Sit and Reach
  
• test of trunk muscle endurance administered before and after the treatment period (Hamstring flexibility and trunk muscle endurance were assessed )

Over time, both groups had statistically significant improvements in most outcome measures. Compared with group 2, group 1 had statistically significant improvements in physical function, measured by the Roland & Morris Disability Questionnaire, and in the duration of pain, measured by the Painometer

• The authors concluded that all assessments in back pain and function and quality of life showed improvement in both groups, but the Roland & Morris Disability Questionnaire score and duration of back pain showed greater improvement in the group with individualized education.
  
• The authors recommended that combining physical activity and exercise was a useful strategy to address LBP in children and adolescents.

According to the study authors: "An individual assessment by a knowledgeable physiotherapist and an active treatment model improve how children and adolescents experience their back problems with respect to health and physical function, pain, strength, and mobility, regardless of whether treatment consists of a home exercise program with follow-up or home exercise combined with exercise and treatment supervised by a physiotherapist,"
"A cost-effective treatment model that includes careful individual back examination and analysis of appropriate home exercise with follow-up and evaluation will help the majority," the study authors conclude.

A self-training program of exercise with individualized therapy is associated with greater improvements in the Roland & Morris Disability Questionnaire disability score and pain duration compared with a similar program without individualized therapy. Both exercise programs improve all pain, function, and quality-of-life outcomes in children and adolescents with Low Back Pain.


Additional Sources: Spine 2008;33:E721–E727
Picture: Gamercize on Flickr


Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.


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