Motion Restriction Caused by Thoracic-Lumbar-Sacral Orthoses During Activities of Daily Living

Introduction Lower back pain is a common musculoskeletal disability affecting individuals of every income and age. The main cause of lower back pain is still not fully understood, with some theories suggesting that it is related to posture and placement of the spine in compromising positions. This study investigated the ability of two styles of thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthoses to restrict range of motion during activities of daily living. Materials and Methods Fourteen able-bodied adults were recruited. Two styles of TLSOs from two companies were chosen for the comparison with the no-brace condition. Two brands of each brace style were selected for comparison. Subjects were first asked to perform motion in three planes, then asked to complete seven motions to simulate daily living. Results There were no significant differences between the no-brace and brace conditions for motion in the sagittal and coronal plane ranges of motion. There were significant reductions in transverse plane range of motion detected between the no-brace condition and both styles of brace. During bending, reaching, walking, and stair ascent differences between the brands of brace were observed. Conclusions The chosen brands were equivalent across most movements. All braces were able to restrict motion, though the level of restriction varied between brace during some tasks for some planes of motion. Understanding the differing restrictions will assist health care providers and consumers choose the best TLSO to provide the motion restriction they require. Clinical Relevance Health care providers and consumers can have options when choosing a TLSO depending on which planes of motion need to be restricted.