Are lumbar belts useful or ineffective for back pain? A new study reopens the debate

Lumbar belts are often seen as an immediate solution for lower back pain, promising better posture and relief. A new Cochrane review, however, says the evidence supporting their effectiveness is of very low quality.

Lower back pain affects eight in 10 people in France at some point in their lives. It often centers on the lumbar region, which bears the strain of posture, physical loads and tension. Faced with the pain, many people turn to a lumbar belt as a supposed source of support.

The review examined the available studies systematically and rigorously. Its conclusion challenges the idea that these devices reliably treat chronic lower back pain. In some cases, the belts may even delay recovery.