Lumbar spine orthosis wearing. I. Restriction of gross body motions.

The effects of wearing commonly prescribed low-back braces and corsets on restriction of gross body motions were investigated. A lumbosacral corset, a chairback brace, and a molded plastic thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) were studied. Four trunk movements (flexion, extension, lateral bending, and twisting) were examined in five healthy adult men when standing and sitting. All three orthoses restricted at least some gross body motion to approximately two thirds to one half of no-orthosis values. All three orthoses failed to provide restrictions of at least 10% in at least one motion. Mean motion restriction across all eight movements studied in all five subjects were largest when wearing the TLSO and least when wearing the corset. Gross body motion restrictions relieve lumbar trunk muscle and spine loads.