Should Nurses Wear Back Support???

tablefor9, RN · Jan 11, 2011

Nope.

1. Lends a false sense of security (may make people think they can do more/lift more than they can, be less conscious of good body mechanics)

2. usually poor fitting/ride up/etc

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

Your paper should include any studies relating to how effective the back supports really are. I have read several and some say good, some say no difference.

Where ever I've worked only one place had a requirement for the aids to wear the back support belt which brings me to believe they are not that effective. Instead of spending the money of back support belts it should be spent on in services on proper lifting procedure etc...

Personally I don't wear one because I use proper lifting techniques and all that stuff. My weight lifting belts are sturdier then the back support belts I've seen at work. I believe they give a false sense of security to the user and that no one should be lifting anything that could injure themselves.

belgarion · Jan 11, 2011

Just from what I have seen personally I would say no. In my past career one of the safety managers got the bright idea to require back supports for anyone who had to lift 50 lbs. or more. This meant just about everybody. The back injury rate (and workmans comp cost) went through the roof. Like someone else said, people relied more on the device than on good technique.

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

In addition to giving a false sense of security they also will cause your trunk muscles to become weaker because you are not using those muscles appropriately while lifting with the back support on.

The best way to protect your back is to strengthen your abdominal muscles (they help support your spine), and your back muscles and always lift, pull and push using proper technique and help when needed.

I see too many nurses lifting way too much because they don't want to wait for help. I am paranoid about taking care of my back because it is so important.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

Well, here's my experience. I injured my back in nursing school, not a lifting incident, but a bending one. I was working in the newborn nursery and it was a busy day. Spent the entire morning bathing babies, and because I am tall, I was bent at the waist. Sat down for lunch and ate, then went to use the bathroom. As I bent over to pull my pants up, I felt a snap and extreme pain. Went to the ER and was laid up for a couple weeks. It was strictly muscular without disc or bone involvement, but very painful.

When I returned to clinicals, I wore a back brace that I had used previously when working at a stable (cleaning stalls, carrying heavy feed bags, etc.) I could definitely tell a difference in how it felt, and it did seem to offer some support. I can easily see how it might give someone a false sense of security, but if you can avoid that pitfall I can see where they would be helpful. It would be interesting to see if there is any research in their use as far as avoiding injuries, mine was used post-injury so it might be a different experience.

elkpark · Jan 11, 2011

Those back support belts were v. trendy in nursing for a few years quite a while back, and facilities were buying them and even requiring that some employees wear them at work. Then, a number of research studies were done that indicated they were not only helpful, they may be doing more harm than good.

I would encourage you to look for those studies -- they would be much more appropriate material for a research paper than nurses' opinions.

littlemammanurse, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

I have a bad back and I use it for the extra support, I never rely on the brace to help me lift more, I just use it to help my back feel better.

CAT-CNA · Jan 11, 2011

I injured my back at my last job, it was not from lifting, but from rolling. The resident was in bed and i was rolling him from hi back to his R side so I can get him ready for bed. He apparently did not want to get ready for bed so as I was rolling him toward the wall he put his hand on the wall and pushed against me and I felt a pull in my lower back. I ended up going to the ER and got a shot in my hip--painful--it still hurts from time to time.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

With nurses and nurses aides being one of the highest risk groups for work place injuries specifically back trauma, should the wearing of lower back support be encouraged in addition to proper diet and exercise?
Would love to know how nurses really feel for a research paper!

PPE (personal protective equipment ) should be the last resort in the heirarchy of risk controls for any task , for manual handling tasks the hierarchy of risk control is roughly

1. process redesign ( i.e. hoisting or none lifting transfers )

2. use of tools to assist process ( handling belts etc )

then finally use of PPE by handlers

look at the EU directive on Moving and handling and the legislation made by member states following this ...

Manual handling

boisern84 · Jan 11, 2011

Well the research report is actually for a new company looking to address the needs of nurses. Of course diet and exercise to build a strong core is the best bet. I am finding that though most hospitals and healthcare professionals emphasize using lift assisting devices they are not always readily available for the staff and most nurses actually report injuries while doing non-lifting activities such as making beds or assisting with ambulation. When asking chiropractors the same question: would they recommend back support for nurses? The majority respond with yes because they will mainly serve as a reminder to watch their posture and movements and perform duties ergonomically such as not bending and twisting at the same time or bending their knees keeping the back straight and so on. I believe more light needs to be shed on this issue and I am thankful for all the responses.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2011

Nope.
1. Lends a false sense of security (may make people think they can do more/lift more than they can, be less conscious of good body mechanics)
2. usually poor fitting/ride up/etc

I agree with this.

Think about physical therapists...have you ever seen one wear back support?

If you consistently use proper body mechanics, back support should not be necessary...it only forces you to maintain body alignment, it does not take the place of proper body mechanics and if worn all the time, can actually weaken your back muscles.