Do you experience back pain while working or exercising? Improper lifting and inappropriate posture might be the cause. Through the aid of back braces, you can improve your posture. We review five brands to help you find the best back braces for you. Read on if you want to prevent back pain from occurring again.
What Are the Benefits of Wearing Back Braces?
You’ve probably experienced back pain because of too much slouching or curving of your back. Do you always sit or stand like that? This position does not only affect our posture, but it also contributes to our back pain and spinal weakness.
When working or performing activities, you can wear a back brace to prevent back pain and injury. Wearing a back brace is also a must if you want to ensure that you are always in a proper posture.
Here are some benefits of wearing the best back braces:
- Improves your posture
- Enhances stability
- Supports your lower back when doing strenuous activities
- Reduces spinal pressure
- Treatment for back conditions
- Strengthens your core and back
What Are the Various Types of Back Braces?
A back brace is a medical tool designed to reduce your unnecessary movements. These back braces come in different types to support your lower, middle, or upper back.
The following back braces are categorized based on their support level. Find out which of these braces suits your needs.
- Rigid Brace. These are the best back braces in terms of support level because of their fixed panels. Its hardness is ideal for you if you are currently experiencing severe back pain or recovering from an injury. They can significantly minimize your mobility and are appropriate to wear after a surgical procedure.
- Flexible Brace. It provides comfort and support because of its cotton, elastic, and neoprene materials. It enables you to move around freely even if you are wearing it. These are the best back braces if you want to reduce excessive motions, including bending and twisting.
- Semi-rigid Brace. It is a combination of flexible and rigid braces. This type of brace incorporates rigid panels or stiff padding. You can adjust the level of support through its removable supports. These are the best back braces if you want to customize the stability of your brace.
When to Consider Wearing a Back Brace
Before using or wearing a back brace, you must first consult with your doctor. With medical evaluation, you can determine the type of back brace you need. Take note that wearing a back brace is part of a comprehensive treatment program. Wearing back braces without a doctor’s recommendation can aggravate your condition.
Here are some conditions that would benefit from back braces:
- Postoperative healing
- Osteoarthritis — back pain and stiffness caused by the wearing down of the cartilage protecting the ends of your bones
- Vertebral compression fractures — when the bones of your spine weaken to the point of crumpling
- Lumbar herniated disc — happens when a disc in the lower spine bulges from between the bones
- Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spaces between the spine, particularly in the neck and lower back
- Muscle tension and strain
How Long Should You Wear Back Braces?
If you are healing from an injury and utilizing back braces supports you when moving or doing activities, you may use back braces for a long time. However, if you are wearing back braces for safety purposes, it should only be worn if needed, for example, when performing extreme activities such as weightlifting.
It would be best if you do not depend on back braces unless you have a back injury or any particular medical condition. These posture correctors are useful for short-term relief.
Always seek the advice of your doctor on how long you should wear a back brace. To avoid irritation and further injury, wear your back braces as prescribed. It would also be better to remove the braces to clean your skin and give it time to breathe.
The 5 Best Back Braces of 2020
Let’s move on to the most exciting section, where we share with you our top five best back braces!
We carefully selected five back braces with various styles, features, and benefits. We will help choose what’s the best back braces for you by giving you the pros and cons of each.
1. Flexguard Support Back Brace
This back brace is created for versatility and durability. It is designed to protect and correct the posture of your upper and lower back. Made through extensive research, Flexguard Support Back Brace realigns your spine the natural way.
You might feel uncomfortable when you first wear it, but you will get accustomed to it as time goes by. The straps are cushioned to ensure the overall support without affecting your shoulders.
The best back braces should provide comfort, durability, and longevity, which you can find in this support. Moreover, you can select which size suits your body.
| Pros |
| Includes a guide called Posture Booklet, which provides more product information and posture-related exercises |
| Developed with cushioned straps to keep your back brace durable and easy to wear |
| Fully adjustable and can be worn under your clothing |
| Cons |
| The straps can rub against the skin of your armpit. |
2. BraceUP Stabilizing Back Brace
The BraceUP Stabilizing Back Brace provides comfort and lower back support. It also allows for full range of motion. If you want back pain relief without the back brace hindering your busy lifestyle, then consider this as one of the best back braces for you.
Some back braces become intensely hot when used for an extended period. But most users do not encounter this issue with the BraceUP Stabilizing Back Brace. I love it because I can comfortably wear it over bare skin or a T-shirt. The adjustability is also a big plus for me. The pull-up straps on the belt allow me to tighten or loosen the brace’s grip depending on the activity I’m doing.
You can use the BraceUP Stabilizing Back Brace even if you are doing activities that involve a lot of bending or stooping. With this back brace, you can get back to your daily routines without injuring yourself further. The size ranges from Small to 2X Large, so be sure to get the correct size for you.
| Pros |
| Lightweight and molds to the shape of your back |
| The belt and straps provide firm support and adjustability. |
| The fabric is breathable, keeping heat and sweat off. |
| Cons |
| The brace didn’t last long for some users. |
3. Mueller Lumbar Support Back Brace
This is a good choice among the best back braces for back pains caused by strains, sprains, and muscle spasms. It focuses on providing support for the lower spine.
Because of its double-layer design, you can adjust it quickly and easily. It enables you to customize the fit and the compression depending on your pain level.
It also features a removable lumbar pad cushion and concentrates support to the lower back. You can select which size is appropriate for your body type.
| Pros |
| Double-layer construction enables you to customize the fit around your abdomen and lower back |
| The internal molded plastic component prevents the back brace from rolling or bunching. |
| Designed with supportive steel springs to provide additional stability |
| Comes in three sizes: small, regular, and plus size |
| Cons |
| It provides enough protection when you’re doing extreme activities, but the support is insufficient when you’re carrying more weight than you are required to lift. |
4. King of Kings Lower Back Brace
This back brace is suitable if you have herniated disc, lumbar muscle strain, scoliosis, or spinal stenosis. You can also try this product if you are a gardener, driver, or manual laborer.
It is designed to limit waist movement if your lower back is injured. If you are also suffering from waist muscle pain or soreness, this fits you.
To ensure that you get the best back braces from this brand, verify the sizing chart and select what fits your body. Don’t base it on your pants size.
| Pros |
| Specially designed to protect the lower back |
| Constructed with two nylon bars to support the muscle in the waist |
| The pulley system allows you to easily adjust the brace to where you need the support and pressure |
| The knit fabric material is detachable, washable, and breathable |
| Cons |
| Some users had to return the product because of its poor durability |
| The sizing is too small for some people |
5. TLSO Thoracic Full Back Brace
The TLSO Thoracic Full Back Brace is built to relieve pain from thoracic kyphosis or the forward curving of the spine. It does this by promoting the correct alignment of the spine. This product is comfortable to wear 24/7 if your doctor prescribes it. However, it might take you a few days to be completely used to it.
This full back brace also features an abdominal belt with a pulley system to relieve pressure and pain in the spine. As a result, it eliminates your posture problems. Among our picks for the best back braces, this is an ideal fit for you if you’re looking for support you can wear before and after a surgery.
It is also easy to adjust the brace’s compression, which is a must for the best back braces. Just grab the pulley, pull it away from your body until you get the desired compression, and secure the brace using the Velcro strip. Moreover, it is made of breathable materials.
| Pros |
| The buckles have a quick-release feature, making it easy to put on and take off |
| Available in five sizes — small, medium, large, X-large, and 2X-large |
| With soft padding for comfort |
| Can be used as pre- or post-surgery support |
| Unisex |
| Cons |
| Some users are disappointed with its poor durability |
Final Verdict
After carefully reviewing the best back braces, one of them made it to the top of our list. Out of the five, Mueller Lumbar Support Back Brace stood out the most. It’s our choice among our picks for the best back braces this 2020 because it relieves my back pain immediately and almost completely.
Wearing this back brace allows me to resume my normal life. Before, my back pain made taking a short walk unbearable; now, I can go about my daily activities for hours before I feel the need to take a break.
My body is a little bit on the heavy and muscled side, but the plus size fits my body type well. I can wear it comfortably because of its breathable and durable materials. It also has a reasonable price while offering excellent quality.
