In summary, back supports are valuable for the following reasons:

   1. They give you immediate feedback by poking into you and making you feel uncomfortable if you are not bending correctly whilst using it. This feedback is extremely important particularly with people using back supports whilst working or after an injury.
   2. They help to increase the intra abdominal pressure that reduces injuries when lifting or carrying objects.

Whilst back supports in some cases replicate the muscles of the back, they are not a substitute for the muscles and should not be worn for those reasons. In addition, there are no studies showing that the use of back supports reduces the strength of muscles or makes them "lazy". If you have been provided this information, it is false and misleading.

The 2 most important things that need to be kept in mind whilst using a back support is that it should be used correctly and and that correct lifting and bending techniques should be used at the same time. Only by observing and practicing these 2 steps, can back supports be an effective device and supplement your recovery or assist whilst doing lifting.  You should not attempt using a back support to do heavy lifting that could cause a back injury.

This article has been edited by a Qualified Orthotist.