Hyperextension Braces are braces usually designed for purposes of preventing the spine from moving forward. However, they still allow trunk rotation as well as movement from one side to the other. Hyperextension spinal braces are used for people with compression fractures of the upper lumbar and the lower thoracic spine. The brace will put pressure on the chest and the pelvic bone. By so doing, it will ensure that the spine is always in the extended position.
Hyperextension spinal braces are typically used for the treatment of spinal compression fractures. This is because these braces are effective at helping the back recover, especially after surgery of the spine.
They are designed for limiting the movement in the spine. To ensure one cannot bend forward, the brace has a rectangular metal frame going all the way to the front of your body. This frame will pressurize the pubic bone on the chest. Since these braces treat spinal compression fractures, they also support and pressurize the thoracic spine to keep it in an extended position.
In the same way, the typical hyperextension spinal brace also features 3 pads to stabilize the spine and ensure one cannot move forward. One of the pad is located along the chest, another along the abdominals while the last one covers the affected area on the back.
How Does Hyperextension Spinal Braces Work?
These braces are designed to ensure that the wearer cannot bend forward too much. This will, in turn, prevent you from interfering with the healing of sensitive spinal structures and the spinal compression.
These spinal braces are also prescribed for people who have undergone spine surgery that involved the upper lumbar (thoracic) region of the spine. With a hyperextension brace, you will be able to take the pressure off any weak vertebrae while also ensuring that you cannot bend too far forward. However, you should still be able to rotate and bend to the side even if the bending of the spine will be restricted when you wear these braces.
Compression fractures occur when the vertebral spine collapses. It is typically caused by tumors of the spine, trauma on the spine, and/or osteoporosis. If the compression fracture is mild or moderate, you can treat it easily by using braces or by staying immobile.
Braces are effective at alleviating pain, preventing deformity, compensating for muscle weakness, reducing the chances of further injuries, allowing injuries to heal adequately, and compensating for overall muscle weakness.
Corset braces are easily identifiable because they usually resemble the corsets that used to be worn by women a couple of centuries ago. Corset braces for orthosis are typically comprised of flexible material which is laced around the injured party's trunk. The corset will typically cover the area around the pelvic bone, just below the sternum. In most cases, they are made of nylon or cotton. However, they also have plastic or metallic stays in them to prevent forward movement.
Corset braces are great for pressuring the abdominal cavity and alleviating pressure from the spine. By so doing, they will promote the healing of the back. In the same way, these braces come with Velcro and/or laces so that the patient can easily adjust it for greater comfort.
Molded jackets are the other type of hyperextension spinal braces. These jackets are more rigid and work by covering the entire lower and upper back (including the sacrum). The bracing will also be custom made for the patient because every back looks different. Molded jackets are typically made of hard but lightweight plastic material with a soft lining. The lining makes the jacket more comfortable for the wearer. The brace will also prevent the spine from moving including side to side, backward, and front movement. They also limit rotation. As such, they are the most effective type of spinal brace for people with serious to dangerous injuries of the back.
Each of the above braces are designed to achieve different purposes. Similarly, their construction is comparatively different, because different injuries require different therapies. Each type of hyperextension spinal brace works through the 3 point pressure system. This means that they will first protect and support the spine. Secondly, they have a directive force in the middle to support the back, as well as two stabilizing forces being directed in opposite directions for stabilizing the trunk.
Overall, hyperextension spinal braces specifically increase the pressure on the back through the compression of the soft tissues around the trunk. They compress the tissue around the spine to ensure that vertebral bodies are overloaded. By so doing, injuries of the back can easily be remedied by ensuring that the patient cannot move too much (where such movement would lead to further injury and limited healing).