Lumbar Brace Deployment in the Emergency Department for Benign Low Back Pain

Plain-language summary

Low back pain accounts for billions of dollars in health care expenditures. Most cases of back pain do not have a clear cause. Thus, low back pain management methods usually rely on targeting people' pain and discomfort. Painkillers, including opioids, are usually prescribed in the emergency departments for people with low back pain. But, like all medications, painkillers can have side effects, and some of those can be serious. There are also serious concerns about the overuse of painkillers. Thus, newer pain management methods are needed to reduce the use of painkillers in people with low back pain. Lumbar braces are one of the underutilized low back pain management methods in the emergency departments. Like crutches for leg and ankle injuries, they can minimise movements of the spine. This may decrease people pain and improve their function. This may also reduce the use of painkillers. In support of this approach, two recent studies conducted in a primary-care setting observed a reduction in the use of painkillers in people with low back pain who wore lumbar braces. The investigators are conducting this study to determine if wearing a lumbar brace for 4 weeks following emergency department presentation will reduce people's pain and discomfort and increase spine function. This may decrease the use of painkiller and future use of healthcare resources. This research study may also assist emergency-department staff with offering new recommendations to improve the quality of clinical decisions.

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