In the treatment of pathological conditions of the human spine, a wide range of techniques is used, starting with conservative therapy and ending with surgical intervention. Often, special orthopedic devices are used to correct posture, fix the spine in the correct position, and relieve pain syndrome. Types of orthopedic correctors, their classification by purpose, methods of application - these issues will be considered in our article. Here we will figure out how to choose a corset for the spine, what to look for first.
The concept and functions of an orthopedic corset
Orthopedic corset is a medical device made of elastic fabric that allows air to pass through. Orthopedic corsets are used for therapeutic purposes in case of curvatures, injuries and various diseases of the spine.
Stiffening
ribs and tightening belts are built into the corset. Corsets are sold in pharmacies and medical equipment stores. Products can also be manufactured according to individual parameters, but they will cost much more. Such corsets for the spine, the prices of which vary depending on the manufacturer, are made according to precisely measured standards of the patient. The price level for such products starts at 200. e. The main purpose of the orthopedic corset:
- fixation of damaged vertebrae of any part of the spine;
- removal of the load from the damaged area and its correct redistribution;
- elimination of tension from the muscle corset;
- correction of spinal deformity;
- warming effect;
- micromassage.
Stiffeners made of plastic or metal can be adjusted according to the shape of the spine (metal) or be unregulated (plastic inserts). At the same time, it is very important that the person in the corset maintains maximum mobility. These devices cannot be manufactured at home. They should only be purchased at specialized points of sale.
Intended classification
Depending on which part of the spine you need to influence, corsets are classified as follows:
- Orthoses - corsets used for injuries of the cervical spine, with instability of the vertebrae or their deformation. Products help relieve muscle spasm or pain. Orthoses are also used during the rehabilitation period after operations. According to the degree of rigidity of the corset
made soft or hard. It happens that to fix the vertebrae of the cervical spine, vests with a head holder are made. - The chest corset for the spine covers the chest and lower back, is used for osteochondrosis, as well as during the rehabilitation period after operations.
- Corsets for the lumbosacral spine cover the pelvis, lower back and part of the chest. Available in varying degrees of rigidity. In addition to osteochondrosis, they are used in case of arthrosis, scoliosis, radiculitis.
- Correctors - soft belts, which are used mainly for the prevention of scoliosis in children and the correction of minor postural disorders in adults.
Hardness classification
According to the degree of rigidity, they distinguish:
- Rigid - corsets that are used in case of serious curvature of the spine, with injuries, fractures. Such a bandage consists of a vest or belt in which rigid plates are sewn.
- Semi-rigid - corsets, the main function of which is to maintain the spine in the correct position during sports or during intense physical exertion.
- Elastic - corsets that do not contain hard inserts, and consist only of elastic bandages. Such corsets are designed to form the correct posture or correct violations of the vertebrae. Often used to prevent scoliosis in children and adolescents. The age at which the children's spine can be corrected with a corset is considered to be 11–16 years.
Among the elastic corsets, another subtype is distinguished - warming belts. These products are made of neoprene - a material that passes air well. The inner side of the corset is made of wool: camel, dog, sheep. Light warming corset belts are used for back pain due to neurological disorders, i.e. with radiculitis, rheumatism, osteochondrosis.
Types of elastic correctors
An elastic corset is a type of corrective brace that forms the correct posture. There are several types of such devices:
- Straps - a bandage, the principle of which is very simple. Belts cover the front of the shoulder joints in the form of a figure eight. As soon as a person’s posture deviates from the correct position, the belts dig into the body and force them to straighten.
- The magnetic corset for the back (spine) is a bandage along the spinal column, in which magnets are created that create a magnetic field. Under the influence of a field in the muscles, blood flow increases. This leads to the strengthening of the muscle corset. In relation to this design, orthopedists were divided into two camps: some are confident in the usefulness of the device, while others cast doubt on the effect.
- An electronic corset is a small device several centimeters in diameter that resembles a coin. The device is attached to the skin using Velcro or underwear using a clip. The sensor remembers the correct position of the body and gives signals in case of incorrect posture. The signal may be audible or in the form of vibrations. The device is considered a very effective tool.
Corsets for spinal fractures
Among the various pathologies of the spine, the most serious are fractures, in which corsets are used as a therapeutic agent. The corset fixes the spine, relieves the load from the damaged section and prevents fragments of the vertebrae from moving, which is important. In case of spinal fractures, wearing a corset is prescribed 10-14 days after the injury. The wearing period, depending on the degree of damage to the spinal column, varies from 30 to 60 days. Orthopedic corset after spinal surgery is also widely used . Usually, with the above pathologies, one of two types of corsets is used:
Gypsum corset is performed exactly according to the individual parameters of the patient. Such a corset firmly fixes the spine, relaxes the back muscles, and contributes to the rapid fusion of bone. The advantage of such a product is its cheapness. Of course, a huge disadvantage of the gypsum corset is the low mobility of the patient enclosed in such a product. The time during which it is necessary to wear a gypsum corset depends on the age of the patient, the severity of the injury, etc. In addition, the corset can rub in the area of the bone protrusions, so a layer of cotton must be laid between the skin and the gypsum.
Metal-plastic corsets have several advantages over gypsum ones - they are smaller in size, give the patient freedom of movement, look more aesthetically pleasing, but much more expensive than the latter. In addition, functionally no different from gypsum.
Compression fracture and hernia of the spine
In medicine, there is the concept of a compression fracture of the spine - this is damage to the column in one of the departments, as a result of which the vertebral body is deformed, changes in size, takes the form of a wedge. Most often, a compression fracture occurs as a result of a fall from a height, unsuccessful diving into the water, a blow to the head, as well as osteoporosis - a decrease in bone density. Most often, the disease occurs in the thoracic and lumbar spine.
There are several ways to eliminate this pathology - surgery and conservative therapy. Conservative, in addition to minimally invasive methods, involves the use of corsets for fixing the spine. A corset with a compression fracture of the spine rigidly fixes the
spinal column, removing part of the load from it, thereby allowing the damaged vertebra to recover over time. This is a very important question, because, if you do not treat a compression fracture, over time, the damaged vertebra can put pressure on the nerve roots or the spinal cord, causing the development of new pathological conditions.
Another serious disease of the spine is intervertebral hernia. This is a pathology in which intervertebral discs due to rupture can protrude and put pressure on the nerve roots of the spinal canal. In the area of the pathological process, edema occurs. All this leads to a painful symptom and a partial loss of sensation of the legs. Most often, a hernia occurs in the lumbar spine. It is believed that in most cases, the pathology is a consequence of osteochondrosis. In conservative treatment, acupuncture and vacuum therapy are most often used together with the use of an orthopedic corrector. In this case, a semi-rigid or rigid lumbar corset with a hernia of the spine will not only provide a warming effect, but also reliably fix the vertebrae. The selection of the corrective product is carried out in accordance with the location of the pathology, as well as how quickly after the onset of the disease measures are taken to correct the situation.
Indications for use of a corset
Wearing a corset or belt may be required if:
- Pain in the back from any part of the spine. The nature of the pain can be different - acute or aching. Numbness of the limbs may accompany pain syndrome.
- Dizziness that is accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Shooting pain in the lumbar spine.
- Postoperative period, rehabilitation of the body after injuries. For example, an orthopedic corset is often used for compression fracture of the spine.
- The need to correct posture.
- Prevent the development of osteochondrosis.
- To reduce the load on the back in case of heavy physical labor, sports loads, with prolonged sedentary work.
- With scoliosis. Here it is necessary to dwell on the stages of the disease.
As a rule, there are three stages of spinal curvature. For the treatment of the 1st stage of scoliosis, a corset is not prescribed, therapeutic measures are limited to exercise therapy, massage, swimming, physiotherapy.
The second stage of the disease involves the use of a corset, and for the correction of posture it is necessary to wear the product constantly up to 6 hours a day. In more severe cases, the corset is removed only during sleep and hygiene procedures.
To treat the 3rd stage of scoliosis, the corset has to be worn almost around the clock, with a break for sleep and hygiene procedures. Unfortunately, this measure can only stop the development of pathology, a complete cure for the disease is impossible.
How to choose a corset for the spine?
When choosing a corset for the spine, it is important to adhere to several rules.
- Choose the right size. To do this, you need to know certain parameters of the body. When choosing a corset for the lumbar region, an important indicator is such as the circumference under the chest on inspiration. When choosing a corset for the sacral spine, you need to focus on the waist or waist circumference. Semi-rigid and rigid corsets should be selected strictly according to the size, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body and only as directed by the doctor. But what if the parameters of the body lie between standard sizes? How to choose a corset for the spine in this case? You should always give preference to a slightly larger product. This rule is based on the fact that the small size of the corset will compress the internal organs and interfere with the normal blood circulation in them. This will not only not correct the existing pathology of the spinal column, but will also lead to an aggravation of the problem and the emergence of other diseases. The corset should support, not squeeze.
- The outer fabric of which the corset is made should be light and flexible. The inside of the product should be on a cotton basis.
- In a high-quality corset, rigid inserts are reliably insulated.
- A good corset has adjustable straps for a secure fit. The straps - wide and soft - should not press and bump into the skin.
- The product should not contain any allergenic components that can lead to rashes on the body, swelling, difficulty breathing.
How to wear a corset?
Before the corset becomes part of the human body, the patient must get used to the product. As a rule, it is recommended to wear the corset-corrector two hours a day during the first week, then add one hour with each subsequent week, bringing the wear to six hours. It is recommended to wear a corset for at least three months, until a person develops the habit of correct posture. This time, of course, may vary depending on the individual situation. When improvements are observed in the state of health, and the doctor decides on the prospect of canceling wearing a corset, the “countdown” begins. This means that weekly it is necessary to reduce the time of wearing a corset by one hour.
If a person spent 16–20 hours a day with a corset, the time of wearing the product is reduced gradually, by 1-2 hours per month, during the first six months, then the rate of reduction in the time of use can be increased. In this situation, the weaning period takes a year and occurs only under the supervision of a doctor. After the corset is not used by the patient, the observation period begins, during which periodically the patient is monitored by the doctor using x-rays. This period can last up to four years.
An electronic corrector can be worn constantly in the active time of the day, taking a break only for sleep, sports, hygiene procedures.
However, there are contraindications to the use of orthopedic corsets, for example, skin diseases in the acute stage.
It should always be remembered that the corrector is not a panacea, and strengthening the muscle corset through constant physical training (swimming, gymnastics) and massage brings the most help in restoring the spine.
Thus, in our article we examined the most pressing issues related to orthopedic products. We found out how to choose a corset for the spine, what to look for, in which cases to use. The main thing to remember is that only a doctor determines the need to use a corset, and the most effective are corsets for the spine, made according to individual parameters. Prices, however, for such correctors are very high.