Efficacy of lumbosacral orthoses in the management of low back pain: biomechanical and clinical comparison of two designs J Cholewicki, DC Morrisette, AS Lee, NP Reeves, GA Seif Michigan State University and Medical University of South Carolina, USA,

Jacek Cholewicki Jacek Cholewicki, co-director of Michigan State University's Center for Orthopedic Research at Ingham Regional Orthopedic Hospital in Lansing.

Objective To compare the efficacy of an extensible (Mueller Adjustable Back Brace) and non- extensible (AspenQuikDraw Pro) lumbosacral orthoses (LSO) in augmenting trunk stiffness and improving physical function in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP).

Mueller / Aspen rigid

Design Trunk stiffness was estimated from the trunk's response to a quick force release in trunk flexion, extension, and lateral bending. Twenty subjects performed five trials in each experimental condition: (1) No LSO, (2) Mueller LSO, and (3) Aspen LSO. An additional 63 subjects were randomized to the same 3 treatment groups Iisted above.

Methodology Subjects in the LSO conditions wore the LSOs daily. The Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire was administered at baseline and at 2 to 3 weeks from starting treatment.

Results

Conclusion A non-extensible LSO is more effective in augmenting trunk stiffness and in improving physical function in patients with chronic LBP when compared with an extensible LSO.