Study Shows Back Support Belt Improves Posture, Reduces Back Pain; Health Professionals Praise San Francisco-based Back-A-Line's Unique Belt Design.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2001

A study released today at a national ergonomics conference found a new back-support belt designed by San Francisco-based Back-A-Line, Inc. greatly improves posture and reduces back pain.

Researchers from the Center for Ergonomic Research (CER) at Miami University of Ohio presented the results of their study to hundreds of ergonomists and health professionals at the fourth annual Applied Ergonomics Conference.

"The Back-A-Line belt, with its one-of-a-kind curved support, provides the most striking difference in back support by stabilizing the user's torso," said Dr. Marvin Dainoff, the study's lead researcher and author. "The belt preserves a greater margin of safety, therefore, keeping the user from extreme ranges of motion and reducing the risk of back strain."

The study, conducted in 2000, evaluated the effectiveness of the Back-A-Line belt through a set of procedures developed by CER to test postural changes during reaching. Researchers analyzed postural transitions throughout a series of reaching tasks performed by participants. Results show participants wearing a Back-A-Line belt tended to have transition points closer to their body, hence keeping them from extreme ranges of motion and improving posture.

According to American College of Rheumatology, back pain is the most prevalent medical disorder in industrialized societies, low back pain disables 5.4 million Americans and costs at least $16 billion each year, and two-thirds of all adults will experience at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime.

The Back-A-Line belt features a patented design different from the elastic belts typically used today. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December 2000 found that elastic back belts are not effective in reducing back injuries or low back pain. Unlike elastic belts, which do not affect posture and provide no lumbar support, the Back-A-Line belt features a patented curved, firm lumbar pad, which coaxes the spine into correct posture and supports the spinal curve.

"The Back-A-Line belt may provide an alternative approach. This belt is not elastic, but provides a stiff, form-fitted surface in the lumbar region of the spine," Dainoff said. "It is argued that this design will actually stimulate abdominal muscles by providing resistance."

Professionals from a range of medical and health organizations -- including the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine -- have praised Back-A-Line's effectiveness and unique design.

"The unique curved pad, with (its) firm bilateral support and tapered sides, relieves pain and protects, as well as supports the low back and vertebral muscles..." said Dr. Trish Connelly, a chiropractor who endorses Back-A-Line's products. "But more importantly, (it) allows specific support and comfort ... it fulfills the demand of what a low back support should do."

"Being thirty-four years old and having the `back of a 70-year-old' I was looking at giving up skiing and going under the knife," said Dave Wuischpard, who purchased a Back-A-Line belt earlier this year. "I just got back from skiing at Whistler Mountain in British Columbia and experienced minimal to no pain when using the Back-A-Line belt. Thank you for saving my ski season this year!"

Back-A-Line was founded in 1993 by Bill Landtbom, 57, after he was involved in an automobile accident which left him with ruptured and herniated spinal disks. Landtbom took it upon himself to create his own back support. He wore his invention -- now the Back-A-Line belt -- everyday for two years until his back pain was gone. Today, Back-A-line, Inc. manufactures an advanced version of the back support belt originally developed by Landtbom and has expanded its product line to include a maternity support belt and tool belt. Back-A-Line products are available in select retail stores or online at www.backaline.com.