Pain Improvement in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain Following Discontinuation of Corset Use

Abstract

[Purpose] To clarify the effects of discontinuing corset use in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. [Participants and Methods] We evaluated pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale: NRS), anxiety (Pain Catastrophizing Scale Japanese version: PCS), and lumbar multifidus muscle cross-sectional length in 58 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain who were wearing a corset, dividing them into 2 groups: 31 who discontinued corset use (discontinuation group) and the rest who continued it (continuation group). [Results] At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the two groups; however, after 12 months, NRS and PCS were significantly lower in the discontinuation group. In the continuation group, lumbar multifidus muscle cross-sectional length significantly decreased, particularly among those with a wearing history of less than 1 year. [Conclusion] Discontinuing corset use may be expected to reduce pain and prevent worsening in chronic non-specific low back pain.