The use of lumbosacral corsets prescribed for low back pain

Two hundred and one randomly selected patients (109 women and 92 men) fitted with their first lumbosacral corset because of low back pain were interviewed 3.5--4.5 years later. Two-thirds of the patients were 41--70 years when fitted with the corset. Barely three-quarters of them wore the corset regularly immediately after prescription. One-fifth became symptom-free within the period covered by the study. Of those who still had symptoms at the time of the interview, two-thirds (about half of the original material) were still wearing a corset. Of these two-thirds, about half wore the corset at least once a week. The women doing heavy work and female pensioners tended to use their corsets more frequently. The frequency with which the corsets were used was not influenced by the clinical diagnosis or the type of corset used. As many as 89 per cent of the patients reported that they used the corset because it supported their back or because it not only gave such support, but also relief from the pain. Thirty-seven of 96 non-users reported that the corset did not fit well but only 7 that they did not benefit from the use of the corset. A better follow-up of users would surely increase the frequency with which such corsets are used to the advantage of the patients.