Limiting the motion of the spine enhances the healing process for bone in both conditions, and will also usually decrease the patient's low back pain and discomfort.
Rigid braces are heavy and hot and tend to be relatively uncomfortable for patients.
They should be worn when the patient is up, but may be removed when lying down. A corset brace is sometimes recommended to limit motion of the spine after a lumbar fusion . The brace helps limit motion in the back while the fusion sets up by not allowing the patient to bend forward. People with jobs that involve heavy lifting also sometimes wear corset braces. These braces essentially work by limiting motion and acting as a reminder to use proper body posture when lifting.