Research into lumbar supports yields mixed results.
A 2019 study investigated the effects of flexible lumbar supports on lower back pain in assembly-line workers. It found no significant difference in reported pain measures between participants in the experimental group versus the placebo group.
However, a separate 2019 study suggests that wearing flexible lumbar support may slightly decrease back pain. The study authors found that participants who wore an abdominal belt reported less pain after 1 week compared with participants who did not wear the belt.