The Home Machinist!

Hey guys, do any of you know of a durable, and well designed lower back support belt? I never owned one and I know nothing about them and was just overwhelmed at the sheer number of them produced in so many different styles, brands, prices. Doesn't seem like there is much technology to them, but maybe there is for the real good ones. The only one I ever recall seeing any laborers wear are those very wide thick brown leather ones. As for price, I'd like to get the best value for my money, but not at the expense of durability and design, I'd rather pay more now than be sorry later ....

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Thank you in advance,
diyer

i am sure there is a place for them the wide leather are i believe for weight lifting.

when these first came out it seemed like a hot idea but was quickly found that constant use led to weaker back muscles and more injuries.

i found for me using a kidney belt to keep the back muscles warm and some stretching/flexibility exercise along with set ups etc was a far more valuable way to prevent back problems.

If my opinion counts here, the leather back brace is neat looking, but virtually worthless for strain protection. The devices they use in home stores and industry, are a black waist belt, that have suspenders to keep them at the right level. They are all Velcro closure, and are usually released after the lifting work is done, because they are cynched up just before. They are commonly used by fork truck drivers for back protection from jarring along on lumpy floors with solid wheel trucks.

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Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

I's a wonder that anyone has made it past 50 years of age and is still alive without the aid of all of the safety devices now out there...

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Glenn

Operating machines is perfectly safe......until you forget how dangerous it really is!

Natural selection?

Steve

+1


The very best safety device a person can posess is located between their ears.

JM2c

Exactly!

Unfortunately, it is far less common to just use that one.

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Glenn

Operating machines is perfectly safe......until you forget how dangerous it really is!

No wonder I have been declared "unsafe" so often.

as we age at some moments in time the between the ear safety device is not totaly reliable. i will hate seeing my gardian angle for all the grief i have caused him.

we know we are not invincible(young workers are)

safety equipment is a big emprovement over sitting in line at the job site waiting for someone to get killed so you can take his job. plus now that we have agood chance of reaching 80 to 90 years of age its a lot longer to live with the pain and it never seems to go all away.

several year ago the railroad started a streatching and warm up program befor each work session. it greatly reduced injuries and strains.

Well, I dont have a headache, I have back strain from too many hours of working. This isnt all in my head, it is real pain and doing a few jumping jacks or Yoga mantras doesnt relieve it !!!

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Thank you in advance,
diyer

diyer,

Please don't think I was somehow poking fun at your discomfort. I assure you that is not the case.

I have struggled since 1986 with a bilateral fracture of L-5 vert. My L-5 disc is completely ground away and gone. And has been since 1989. Spine is in what's called Grade 2 spondylethesis. Which means the front 1/2 of the broken vert. is shifted forward and is only 50% in contact with the pelvis. This causes pinched nerves leaving both L-5 and L-4 junctures. With severe sciatic pain in the glutumus area and down both legs into the feet. Left leg is 3/4" smaller dia. than right due to continuously depressed nerves.

If you suffer from lower back pain of any kind please do not do jumping jacks. All this does is use the weight of your upper body to jack hammer your spine down onto the pelvis. Gentle stretching exercises and especially the moslem prayer position usually helps alleviate compaction in the lower back.

As to your question about back support belts. I've never worn one for any lenght of time. Even though I have half a dozen around here from various Doctors. They are hot, sweaty, uncomfortable, restricting and in the long run only serve to weaken the abdominal muscles as your body adjusts to the belt supporting you instead of your muscles. Which just makes back worse in the long run.