Study Design: Longitudinal, repeated-measures, factorial design. The trunk axial rotation repositioning error was the dependent variable, while the orthoses, test mode (passive versus active), and the testing session were the independent variables.

Objectives: To verify whether lumbosacral orthoses (LSOs) affect proprioception in the lumbar spine and whether these effects change over a 3-week period during which the LSO is consistently worn.

Background: To date, there is no compelling evidence that lumbar orthoses support the spine. One hypothesis advanced by several authors is that they may enhance position sense (proprioception) in the lumbar spine.

Methods and Measures: Fourteen subjects without low back pain wore lumbosacral orthoses 3 hours a day for 3 weeks. Spine proprioception was tested in a seated posture in 3 sessions (days 0, 7, and 21).

Results: A significant 3-way interaction was found between the effects of the orthoses, session, and test mode (P = .03). The ratio of passive to active average error indicated that after 3 weeks of wearing LSO, proprioception in the passive test worsened in relation to the active test with the LSO. In contrast, proprioception in the passive test improved in relation to the active test when performed without the LSO.

Conclusions: The LSO did affect proprioception in the lumbar spine. These effects most likely changed over time due to sensorimotor adaptation. However, no overall proprioceptive benefits could be ascertained from healthy subjects wearing the LSO.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2006;36(4):225-231, doi:10.2519/jospt.2006.2143.

Key Words: brace, low back pain, lumbar support, spinal orthoses