Patent ID: 8409122

Claim:
A back orthosis, comprising: first and second, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panels, which are operatively and releasably attached to one another to form a circumferential enclosure about a wearer, the releasably attached first and second, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panels together forming at least one anterior anchoring point configured to fit centrally over a wearer's anterior side, opposite ends of the first and second, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panels each including at least one rear lateral anchoring point configured to fit over lateral positions of a wearer's back; and a separate, laterally adjustable, rigid lumbar compression piece configured for positioning only at the back of a wearer and having: opposing first and second lateral sides, the first side connected along substantially its entire vertical length to the first, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel by a first cord, and the second side connected along substantially its entire vertical length to the second, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel by a second cord; a first set of apertures through which the first cord passes and is operatively pulled or allowed to loosen, respectively either: to draw the first side laterally closer to the first, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel, and the first separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel posteriorly closer to the first side, or to distance the first side laterally further from the first, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel, and the first, separate, opposing and mating front-attachment panel further from the first side; and a second set of apertures through which the second cord passes and is operatively pulled or allowed to loosen, respectively either: to draw the second side laterally closer to the second, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel, and the second separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel posteriorly closer to the second side, or to distance the second side laterally further from the second, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel, and the second, separate, opposing and mating front attachment panel further from the second side; wherein pulling of the first cord and the second cord causes the back orthosis to circumferentially tighten and to concentrate inward compression of the separate, laterally adjustable, rigid lumbar compression piece especially upon a spinal region of a wearer's back with the aid of a mechanical advantage dependent upon a number of apertures through which the first cord or the second cord passes.