Ohio residents who have injured your back in a car accident may be asked to wear a back brace for a period of time. Of course, the doctor that you see will give you specific instructions based on your injury. This will allow you to get the most out of the brace. But what else should you know about back braces?
As Mayfield Brain and Spine points out, there are many different types of back braces, each serving its own unique purpose. They can also be made of different material depending on the amount of support you need. Some braces are made with molded plastic. Others are made with foam rubber or elastic nylon. You can even get a brace custom molded to your body for the best possible fit.
As for brace types, there are different kinds of braces targeting different areas of the back. Depending on which area of your spine you injured during the accident, you will have a different type of brace. Some common brace types include:
- Halo ring
- Cervical collar
- Thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthosis (TLSO)
- Cervical-thoracic
- Lumbar-sacral orthosis (LSO)
The duration of your brace wear can last anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months, with larger injuries typically taking a much longer time to heal, as your spine needs to fuse back together. Braces can usually be removed to be washed during this time.
Again, it’s important to follow the orders of your doctor during this time. Everyone’s healing period will be different, and the needs of your body and injury will dictate how you truly interact with your brace.
