Abstract
Ninety-three new outpatients with muscular low back pain were treated with traditional lumbosacral corset (traditional corset) or one with a front to back tensile band (extensile corset) or without any corset (control participants) for two weeks. Randomization was performed according to birth date. Among the patients abdominal obesity subgroups were defined as males with the waist-hip ratio (W/H)≥90% and females with W/H≥80%. Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale scores were measured at baseline and two weeks. Participants without abdominal obesity (n=49), treated with the extensile corset, demonstrated significant improvement compared with control participants (p=0.001). In the abdominal obesity subgroup (n=44), treated with the traditional corset, demonstrated significant improvement compared with control participants (p=0.015). In the conclusion, abdominal obesity should be considered when recommending corsets for patients with acute muscular low back pain.
