A non-randomized clinical trial to assess the impact of nonrigid, inelastic
corsets on spine function in low back pain participants and asymptomatic
controls.
Author(s): Kawchuk GN(1), Edgecombe TL(2), Yu Lok Wong A(2), Cojocaru A(2), Prasad N(3).
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University
of Alberta, 8205 114 St, 2-50 Corbett Hall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G4.
Electronic address: greg.kawchuk@ualberta.ca. (2)Department of Physical Therapy,
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, 8205 114 St, 2-50
Corbett Hall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G4. (3)Department of Mathematical
and Statistical Sciences, Faculty of Science, 632 Central Academic Building
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G1.
Publication date & source: 2015, Spine J. ,
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although previous studies suggest braces/corsets can reduce
acute pain, no prior study has assessed back function after bracing with both
self-reported and objective measures. Use of both self-reported and objective
measures of spine function together may be important given evidence they assess
unique aspects of function.
PURPOSE: The aim was to assess both self-reported and objective measures of
spinal function before, and after, use of a nonrigid, inelastic lumbar brace.
STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This was a non-randomized clinical trial.
PATIENT SAMPLE: The sample included acute low back pain (LBP) participants and
asymptomatic controls.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), spinal stiffness, and muscle
endurance were the outcome measures.
METHODS: Three groups were studied: -LBP/-Brace (n=19), -LBP/+Brace (n=18), and
+LBP/+Brace (n=17). Both groups of braced participants were instructed to wear
the brace continually for 2 weeks with the exception of bedroom and bathroom
activities. Before and after the 2-week period, three measures of spinal function
were performed: spinal stiffness via motorized indentation of the L3 spinous
process, a modified Sorensen test (timed lumbar extension against gravity), and
the ODI. Repeated measures analyses of variance were conducted for all three
outcomes.
RESULTS: Among the groups, ODI scores decreased significantly for the +LBP/+Brace
group (p<.001) compared with the other two groups. The +LBP/+Brace mean ODI score
decreased 3.71 points (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.01-5.40) compared with the
-LBP/-Brace group and decreased 3.48 points (95% CI 1.77-5.20) compared with the
-LBP/+Brace group. Change scores for the Sorensen test were significantly
increased in the +LBP/+Brace group (p=.037) compared with the -LBP/-Brace group
(22.47s 95% CI 8.14-36.80). Spinal stiffness did not change significantly between
groups.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that lumbar function assessed by
self-reported and objective measures does not worsen when nonrigid, inelastic
bracing is used for short periods of time for those with, or without, back pain.
These data add to the existing literature that suggests short-term use of
nonrigid, inelastic bracing for acute LBP does not decrease spinal function when
measured separately with subjective or objective tools.
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