Ottobock The S.P.I.N.E. Adjustable Lower Back Brace with Pulley System - Lumbar Back Support Belt for Men and Women - Compression to Relieve Lower Back Pain & Spine Pressure, 3X-Large

I bought a back belt sold by Simms in 1998 to relieve pain in my back when I went fly fishing. As time progressed and the arthritis in my back advanced, I wore this belt more often until I started wearing it at work whenever I had to stand for more than a couple of hours at a time. Last year, I called Simms to order a backup belt and found they no longer sold this belt, and didn't know what had happened to the original company!A month ago, the tightening cord slipped out of the tighteners on my old belt, and I couldn't get it back in without destroying the belt! I didn't know what to do, as my back began to hurt daily as I worked on the aviation floor! Over the next couple of weeks, I tried three other belts, and while the three belts each had advantages and disadvantages, the common theme was that all three were narrower on the sides and the back, allowing the belt to ride above my waist, catching me under the ribcage! They were also not made like my old belt and felt flimsy in comparison!I desperately started looking for the original company and finally found this belt, which looked identical to my old one. While the new belt is a newer version, it is essentially the same as the old belt but with an almost frictionless tightening system due to the ultra-slick Spectra cord.From the moment I put this belt on, I could tell this was the back belt I'd been looking for! After ten days on the floor, I'm working 10-hour days without back pain! This belt makes my old belt pale in comparison! While my old belt took some serious pulling power using both hands to tighten, this newer belt can be tightened with two fingers!If you need a back belt that does not ride upward as you walk or work, and is so comfortable you sometimes forget you have it on, then this is the belt for you! From the moment you pull it from the package, you can tell this is a high-quality item that is made to withstand the test of time!

Let me first say that after a work related back injury and multiple reinjuries, I have been dealing with lower lumbar pain for over 10 years. After this latest flare up, I decided to look for another belt. After alot review reading and video watching, I decided to go with this one.Simply put, It really is worth every penny. It did take me a few attempts putting it on before I found my sweet spot for comfort. I think I'm wearing it just a little bit lower in the front than the woman in the picture, because that is where I felt it should sit to provide the most support in the back. Plus when I had it sitting higher up in the front, the top part of the back of the belt (those two plastic pieces) were digging uncomfortably into my back.What I love about this brace is the customized support of the pulley system. I mean this brace hugs you so very well and it doesn't bunch up or overyly constrict in areas of my waist, like the spandex typed braces do. I feel like this molds to my back and stomach and my sides so very well.The mesh is breathable and its stiff and I absolutely love that because I'm a big gal, I have bulges and creases and because the belt portion is a stiffer mesh it holds all that stuff in, instead of stretching around it and digging in. Oh my golly, this brace is wonderful!!I admit, at first when I put it on, I didn't feel like I was getting that much support, but it was because the front was sitting too high. Once I angled the front velcro down a little, it allowed for the back plastic part to sit where I need it to and when I sinch it tightly, oh my word the supporting feels so good!!I mean I bought this brace for work but I haven't taken it off since I first tried it on 3 hours or so ago after it arrived today in the mail. I wish I felt like this all the time!Unfortunately though, it's my understanding that you shouldn't wear these all the time because it causes your core muscles to get weak and I already have weak core muscles so I don't want them getting any weaker. I did find that this brace is also helping my posture. It isn't so much as forcing me to sit up straighter, but it makes me want to. I can still slouch, but with this brace on, it feels so much better to sit up nice and straight. I love it!!My only concern is with the draw strings. They are so thin, and I pull my brace so tightly and the warranty, which is already limited, is only good for 90 days. I hope this brace lasts atleast a few years.So far everything feels nice and tight and stiff. I hope it stays that way. I will update my review if I have issues but so far I can not recommend this brace enough.