Does bracing really work for spinal disorders?

By Kim Sang-hyuk

Most people, from students to office workers, spend a great deal of time sitting in front of desks. This often results in inappropriate postures that cause distorted spines.

A number of companies noticed this problem early on and now there are many items available to help people correct their sitting postures: spine supports, which manufacturers say correctly aligns the spine; a belt, which claims to straighten the shoulders; and an instrument on which one can lie down to receive acupressure on the spine and the surrounding muscles. The list of such items is endless.

However, these devices have not always proven to be effective. Choosing Items for spine correction should be chosen extremely carefully because results differ with each individual according to their condition or age. Also, outcomes vary depending on how each person uses or wears the equipment.

In which cases have braces proven to be effective?

When can patients expect to see significant results, such as relief from pain or corrected posture as the result of wearing a brace? First, in the case of pain relief, many patients can expect to see significant results from using a brace if they have experienced acute back pain.

If the pain suddenly increases, the muscles and neuro-transmission system slow down and may result in secondary damage. Using a brace may prevent further damage.

Moreover, one spine disorder in which bracing can be very effective for posture adjustment is scoliosis in adolescents. However, not all adolescents with scoliosis qualify to have a brace ― only those with spinal distortion of between 20-30 degrees.

Choosing a right brace and wearing it

There are various types of braces, but some are not approved as medical equipment; thus, wearing such a brace without first consulting a doctor is discouraged, and the effect of such use without professional consultation is most often insignificant.

Before making a choice, an x-ray exam is needed to accurately assess and measure the degree of each spine’s distortion in order to select a brace specially tailored to individual needs.

Also, based on the condition of each person’s spine, one may see significant results by only wearing a brace at night, or one may need to undergo surgery if the brace itself does not provide significant help.

Moreover, if someone suffers from a fractured spine, a brace to firmly fix the front and back of the spine is chosen. However, for post-operative patients or those with acute back pain, a brace which supports the back is prescribed.

However, patients with acute back pain without severe damage to the spine may experience decreased strength in the spine muscles as a result of wearing a brace for long periods of time. Under such circumstances, the person wearing the brace should only do so from two to seven days.

The writer is director of the spine center at

Bumin Hospital Seoul in Gangseo District. He

was named in the 2014 edition of Marquis

Who’s Who.