Abdominal Belt Use to Treat Low Back Pain

Effectiveness of Abdominal Belt for the Chronic Low Back Pain Treatment

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of an abdominal belt in the treatment of chronic mechanical-postural low back pain.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out, involving 60 consecutively selected patients with chronic low back pain randomly allocated to an intervention group (use of abdominal belt) and control group (non-use of abdominal belt). Patients were evaluated at the baseline of the study (T0) as well as 1 (T1), 3 (T3) and 6 months (T6) after the inclusion. The patients were assessed for: pain (VAS); functional capacity (Roland Morris), patient satisfaction (Likert scale); and number of anti-inflammatory pills ingested. Intention-to-treat analysis was also used.

Hypothesis - abdominal belt will improve pain in chronic low back pain patients

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients from both genders,
• between 18 and 65 years of age,
• who sought medical care for a complaint of lumbar pain,
• diagnosed with Chronic low back pain, with VAS for pain between 4 and 8 cm (0-10),
• who agreed to participate in the study and signed terms of informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis or under diagnostic investigation of low back pain from secondary causes (spondyloarthopathy, infection, neoplasm, complete sciatica),
• fibromyalgia,
• previous spinal surgery,
• litigation (patients on leave from work or in work leave processes due to low back pain);
• having changed physical activity in previous three months;
• body mass index (BMI) higher than 30;
• acupuncture treatment or physiotherapy in the previous three months