ABSTRACT

Debate over the use of abdominal belts (also known as back belts, back braces (sic), lumbar supports) in industrial settings continues. The premier question still remains “Should abdominal belts be prescribed to workers in industry to perform manual materials handling tasks?” Abdominal belts continue to be sold to industry in the absence of a regulatory requirement to conduct controlled clinical trials similar to that required of drugs and other medical devices. Many claims have been made as to how abdominal belts could reduce injury. For example, some have suggested that the belts remind people to lift properly. Some have suggested that belts may possibly support shear loading on the spine that results from the effect of gravity acting on the handheld load and mass of the upper body when the trunk is flexed. Compressive loading of the lumbar spine has been suggested to be reduced through the hydraulic action of increased intra-abdominal pressure associated with belt wearing. Belts have been suspected of acting as a splint, reducing the range of motion, and thereby decreasing the risk of injury. Still other hypotheses as to how belts may affect workers include (1) providing warmth to the lumbar region, (2) enhancing proprioception via pressure to increase the perception of stability, and (3) reducing muscular fatigue.