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Orthopedic belts are recommended for many patients who have musculoskeletal disorders. With the help of a corset, you can fix the position of the back and reduce pain. To achieve a positive and long-term therapeutic result from wearing a bandage, you should choose an orthopedic design together with a qualified specialist.
Description of orthopedic belts
A medical orthopedic belt is a product that is made from a breathable elastic material with tightening straps and special stiffeners. In traditional medicine, it is called a fixing bandage, anti-radiculitis or corset belt.
The bandage is used not only for the treatment of ailments, but also for strong physical exertion (lifting bulky loads, playing sports), long-term repairs, working in gardens, moving on ice. In the modern world, orthopedic devices are used to reshape the body, improve posture and create a figure without flaws.
The main advantage of the medical product is the correct support and redistribution of the load on the back muscles. However, you need to be very careful with orthopedic corsets, as atrophy of the spinal muscles can occur with prolonged use. The product does not completely relieve the spine of loads, but only partially takes on the load, thereby preventing the occurrence of pathologies and anomalies in the vertebrae.
Classification of medical belts
All orthopedic bandages have plastic or metal stiffeners, which are divided into two groups: flexible and adjustable. Non-adjustable stiffeners do not require additional pull-ups and settings, while adjustable ones need to be adjusted to the shape of the human spine (most often they are made with metal inserts).
According to the degree of density of the material, anti-radiculitis structures are rigid, semi-rigid and elastic. The doctor recommends using rigid belts after injury or surgical interventions to compensate for the supporting function of the affected segment. These products help to avoid displacement of the vertebrae and speed up the patient’s recovery process.
Semi-rigid fixing corsets perform the following functions:
- protect muscles from overexertion;
- unload the injured area;
- have a micromassage and warming effect;
- fix the lumbosacral spine.
Rheumatologists advise people to wear a belt with semi-rigid inserts for severe back pain, heavy loads, sports, and long-term driving. Elastic are used to correct posture and figure.
Light corsets with a warming effect are desirable to use for pain in the spine, which are caused by neurological disorders. Doctors refer to these orthopedic products as a separate group.
Light belts perform two functions. The first is micromassage, the second is warming with dry heat, which is provided with the help of wool, from which the construction is made. According to the spine, bandages are divided into lumbar, lumbosacral, thoracolumbar. Only an experienced doctor can help with the choice of a fixing belt.
Almost all corsets are not visible under clothes, they do not particularly hinder movements and correct the contour of the figure. You can wear such designs anywhere: at school, at work, on vacation.
Benefits of orthopedic belts
The use of orthopedic belts is an essential part of the complex therapy of back diseases. Corsets made of this material provide restoration of the anatomy of the skeleton. While walking, the belt fixes the spine and reduces the load on it.
Medical devices have a number of advantages:
- eliminate pain in the spine;
- evenly distribute the load on the vertebrae;
- minimize the risk of mechanical injury, stretch marks;
- unload the supporting structures of the vertebrae;
- have a beneficial effect on the work of the spinal muscles.
The advantages of the medical device include a wide spectrum of action (the bandage effectively affects the body in case of scoliosis, spondylosis, osteoporosis, spinal fractures, hernias and other serious diseases).
Orthopedic belts are easy to use and easy to care for. There are many modern multifunctional models with affordable price, good quality and high efficiency. It is extremely important to choose a suitable orthopedic corset for the treatment and prevention of back diseases. A high-quality bandage will not only fix the spine, but also reduce the likelihood of a relapse.
Indications for use
A corset belt made of orthopedic material is indicated for scoliosis, discogenic and spondylogenic radiculitis, hernias, vertebral fractures, osteochondrosis, dysfunction of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine, osteoarthritis, spondylosis. After surgical interventions, in case of instability of the supporting structures, the doctor may also prescribe a fixing bandage.
Orthopedic belts are effective after surgeries and injuries, they are widely used to relieve increased muscle tone. In case of pinched nerves, experts recommend wearing a fixing structure. The use of a corset for the purpose of therapy and prevention is not the only method for treating diseases of the back and the musculoskeletal system. The adaptation is aimed at alleviating the well-being of a person, but it does not eliminate the cause of the disease.
The anti-radiculitis belt should be used in combination with physiotherapy exercises and taking medications. During the first fitting of the device, some discomfort may appear, but this is not scary, since everything will pass when the back gets used to the correct position. It is necessary to wear an orthopedic product intermittently so that there is no pain in the back area.
The use of a fixing bandage after vertebral injuries and hernia removal
With injuries of the lower back, edema, inflammation, hematomas and severe pain are formed. Often, due to injury to the spine, the nerve endings are pinched and the person is practically paralyzed. In this case, along with complex treatment, doctors insist on wearing an orthopedic belt. A rigid corset will be able to immobilize the back as much as possible, reduce the load on it, and at the same time will not impede breathing.
If you choose the bandage correctly, then the patient will be able to do therapeutic exercises and lead an active lifestyle during the rehabilitation period.
People who have been diagnosed with a herniated disc or protrusion are more familiar with pain during body movements, so they need to wear a special belt that fixes thanks to small fasteners, hooks or Velcro. The orthopedic product evenly distributes the load on the internal organs and does not squeeze them.
After surgery to remove the hernia, the patient was put to rest and rehabilitation. A person is forbidden to be in a sitting position, you can walk for a short period of time. For a quick recovery, the doctor advises wearing a special lumbar corset. Doctors recommend using a bandage no more than 5 hours a day, so that blood circulation is not disturbed and soft tissues are not squeezed.
Rules for wearing a medical belt
A variety of orthopedic products and design features are prescribed by a specialist in the patient’s medical record. The doctor indicates the duration and rules for wearing the device. The recommendations of medical specialists regarding the use of a bandage must be followed unquestioningly.
The first rule is that it is forbidden to lift more than five kilograms of weight while wearing a belt. The second advice is not to tighten the structure very tightly, as such actions can lead to impaired blood circulation. The third recommendation is to control the color and condition of the skin under the bandage (redness or blueness of the epidermis should not be allowed).
The fourth rule is to avoid increased physical exertion. The fifth advice of doctors is to wear a device for correcting and fixing the body over underwear in order to avoid chafing the skin.
Doctors insist on x-rays of the spine once every 3 months. If you experience pain or discomfort, you should immediately contact a specialist. Correction of the orthopedic belt is obligatory once a quarter.