The back can be found in the large posterior area of the human body. It spans from the neck and shoulders to the top of the buttocks. It holds the spine, the spinal column, and the collection of nerves and muscles associated with it.
Our back is one of most used areas in the body. It's usually prone to injuries that can range from a minor everyday pain to a severe injury requiring surgery.
Back pain is one of the minor aches and pains that affect millions of people every day. If left untreated it can diminish the quality of life causing you to miss out on work or social activities. It can even prevent you from doing simple, everyday tasks.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), back pain is the leading cause of job-related disability. One way to reduce the incidence of back pain is to take care of your back and neck and have a healthy spine with best back brace.
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What Is A Healthy Spine?
According to Cleveland Clinic, the spine (or backbone) runs from the base of the skull to the pelvis. It serves as a pillar to support the body's weight and to protect the spinal cord. There are 3 natural curves in the spine that give it an "S" shape when viewed from the side.
These curves help the spine withstand great amounts of stress by providing a more even distribution of body weight. The spine is made up of a series of bones that are stacked like blocks on top of each other with cushions called discs in between to help absorb shock/load.
The spine is divided into 3 regions:
- Cervical Spine is the upperpart of the spine and is composed of seven vertebrae. It's the region that allows neck movement.
- Thoracic Spine is composed of twelve vertebrae and is found in the chest region. The ribs attach to the thoracic vertebrae.
- Lumbar Spine is the lower back area and is composed of five vertebrae. The lumbar spine, which connects the thoracic spine and the pelvis, bears the bulk of the body's weight and are the largest vertebrae.
A fully functional and healthy spine not only protects the spinal cord but allows unimpeded movement of the upper torso and legs and is able to properly support the body’s weight. Of the three spinal regions, the lumbar spine or lower back region has the greatest potential to disrupt daily activities and affect overall comfort.
Best Back Brace For Men, Women: 5 Top Rated Choices
You may tend to experience back pain more often than other body associated aches and pains but the good news is that there are ways to avoid it. To better protect the spine and avoid back pain, all you need to do is practice better body mechanics when doing daily tasks and being more aware of any possible symptoms.
Using back braces is a good solution which you should consider to fix your back pain. Back braces provide a lot of spinal support and helps absorb and redirect the pressure from the back. By easing the pain from the back, this allows the muscles and joints to heal faster.
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**Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Vive Back Brace - Lower Back Support Brace
A versatile compression wrap that is designed to give full support to the lower back, The Vive Lower Back Brace is perfect for those who want to manage their lower back pains due to stress and injury.
Key Features:
- Reinforced Support: Vertical stays prevent the brace from collapsing.
- Removable Lumbar Pad: Applies pressure to lower back for targeted support.
- Injury Support: This brace is perfect for aiding in recovery from injury and helping to prevent against reinjury.
Via Amazon.com
- PROS
- CONS
- Available waist dimension of the product is up to 38” size waists only.
- Velcro can wear out after a few months.
Amazing Back Brace Belt + Free e-Book - Dual Use
This Amazing Back Brace Belt has two benefits when you use it. First, it provides lower back support for Sciatica and provides relief for menstrual cramps. Second, it is also a self-heating acupuncture magnetic therapy belt to help your muscles relax and promote increase in blood circulation, making it also ideal for general use.
Key Features:
- 2-in-1 Brace: A sturdy and comfortable lower lumbar and sciatica support and deep self-heating treatment for optimal back health and healing.
- Fits comfortably and adjust easily: High quality elastic nylon stretches for a perfect, flush fit with Velcro adjustments and comfortable elasticity.
- Bonus Free E-Book: This brace includes an E-book titled “Dealing with Back Pain the Natural Way” - to give you some ideas and pointers how you can enjoy a healthy back naturally.
Via Amazon.com
- PROS
- CONS
- Can get really hot. You might want to put it over your shirt when it gets uncomfortably hot.
- In some cases, heating mechanism stopped working after a few days.
AidBrace Back Brace Support Belt
This comfortable back brace easily conforms to daily activities while providing the ultimate support to for the back, abdomen and hip area to help provide relief of back pain. It guides the user to have the correct posture and helps avoid back injuries while doing weight lifting or heavy lifting.
Key Features:
- Additional Support: It has a unique removable cushioned lumbar pad that provides additional back support.
- Comfortable Design: Comes with breathable vented mesh backing that allows the skin to breathe and a curved side design to provide the best comfort and less pressure in the abdominal areas.
- Excellent Quality: Made from premium materials that guarantees industrial durability for years of use for back support.
Via Amazon.com
- PROS
- CONS
- Made of comfortable materials that allow prolonged use.
- Bullet Point 2
Bracoo Adjustable Back Brace
A breathable support brace for the lower back that can be used with any kind of exercise or activities, Bracoo Adjustable Back brace is perfect for those who are looking for a lightweight back brace for everyday use.
Key Features:
- Embedded Elastic Spring: Offers firm support for the lower back muscle groups and relieves stress to reduce pain and muscle inflammation.
- Breathable Design & Double Adjustment Mechanism: Accommodates different postures throughout the day and maintains comfort.
- Ergonomic Design: Reduces strain and helps correct spinal posture, provides lumbar spine stabilization.
Via Amazon.com
- PROS
- CONS
- Ideal for back support for both acute and chronic back muscle pain and inflammation, particularly on the erector spinae muscle group.
- Easy to use. Just wrap one Velcro strap around and then take the other strap andyou can wrap it according to your girth.
Dual Adjustable Lumbar Lower Back Brace and Support Belt
A back brace support to keep your spine straight and away from pain and Sciatica, Dual adjustable Lumbar Lower Back Brace is you way to recovery.
Key Features:
- Anti-Odor Technology: Mesh panels allow for the release of excess heat and moisture.
- Anti-Slip Technology: The curved design helps minimize slipping and bunching.
- Improves Posture: Stabilizing Back Support provides comfortable support to your back while still allowing you full range of movement.
Via Amazon.com
- PROS
- CONS
- Eight stays give additional support to the back.
- Stable yet a very comfortable wear.
Moreover, you can check the following provide tips on how to have a healthy back and spine.
1. Lift Properly
It is easy to strain the back when you don’t make a habit of using the proper posture when lifting objects. According to NINDS, to lift correctly, stand as close to the object as you can, and use your legs and knees rather than your back or upper body to pull up the item.
It helps to bend your knees so that your arms are at the same level as the item then keep your head down and back straight. If the object is too heavy, do not force yourself and get assistance from others.
2. Exercise
You lessen the risk of back pain if you have an active lifestyle and exercise. By being in constant motion, you keep your muscles flexible and maintain a healthy spine.
The best exercise routine for your back and neck is one that combines stretching, core-strengthening, and aerobic activity. Yoga is a suggested activity since it promotes better posture and improves flexibility.
3. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Keeping a constant healthy weight is not only good for overall well-being but reduces added strain on the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your back.
4. Keep Hydrated
According to Anne Coffey, DC, a chiropractor with Lustig Healing Arts in Lodi, New Jersey, staying hydrated is important to maintaining soft tissue elasticity and fluidity in joints. This avoids the slipping of disks which is the common cause of sciatica.
5. Be Aware of the Symptoms
By having body awareness, you can observe if sensations of pain correspond to symptoms of more severe cases of back pain. If you can consult symptoms before they get worse, you can avoid the additional trouble that a spinal disease might cause.
6. Work Ergonomically
Use equipment that provide adequate back support while working to avoid back strain due to sitting in one position for a prolonged period of time. Take a break once in a while and walk around to stretch your back and muscles. Use the laptop, mobile phone, and other gadgets in the correct position to prevent causing undue strain to your back.
How To Choose Best Back Brace For Men, Women
When you buy a back brace, make sure you consider all your options and the factors that you need to be wary of. Here are some important features that you have to consider:
Breathability – The most important thing to consider is that you feel comfortable. A back-brace’s breathability will consider how comfortable you are. The one with the lowest breathability will tend to be warm while the higher breathability will feel cooler.
Compression – This is how tight your brace is. IT has to have the ability to apply pressure all around your body as it is needed to correct your posture or to ease your pain. This pressure is also a helpful way to ease swelling.
Flexibility – Of course, even if you are wearing a brace, it doesn’t mean that you should remain seated or on the bed the whole time. You still have a life, and that is why you are wearing a brace, for you to still be able to move. Flexibility is the extent of which you can still move even while wearing the brace.
Stability – This is the brace’s ability to stabilize the ligaments on your back. So you can recover or ease the pain.
Quality – Another important feature is the quality. Braces with quality are more probably going to last longer.
Conclusion
One of the most important and underappreciated part of the body is the back and the spine. The health of the spine will determine many functions and conditions of the body. To adequately support the spine and protect the back, a good back brace will be needed.
I would suggest Vive Back Brace for general use. Its reinforced support, removable lumbar pad, adjustable strap, injury support and universal fit will definitely help anyone having back problems. Plus, because of its stability and reliability, it can easily assist its wear in more strenuous and serious liftings.
Also, adding the consideration of value for money, this one tops all the other brands mentioned in this article.