Description: Support items are devices used to add stabilization to a certain area.

Type: Support Belts

Pros: Give added support and are a physical reminder to use good body mechanics when there is a temptation to use your back incorrectly.

Cons: Restriction of movement which can lead to increased accidents/falls due to inablility to be flexible. Can weaken the back over time if used too much as the back comes to depend on the support. It can give some people a false sense of security and cause them overdo things while thinking that they are protected.

Personal Experience: When we got ready to move into our house, I knew that I would be tempted to lift with my back. I used one of these belts during the few weeks leading up to the move and the few after so that I would remember to lift only a little and with my legs and not my back. It is nearly impossible to lift with your back when wearing one of these.

Type: External seating structures - items that fit on top of existing seating such as chairs, car seats, stadium seats, etc.

Pros: Devices which cover standard chairs or car seats add additional lumbar and neck support and sometimes heat/vibration. Stadium support seating devices are excellent for those instances when you go to a concert or event where there are no seats with backs. Stadium support seating devices are generally made of lightweight materials (easy to transport) and not only provide some cushion to those hard benches but the much needed back support.

Cons: Devices which cover standard chairs or car seats tend to be bulky and sometimes shift easily unless secured extremely well.

Personal Experience: I love stadium seating for the back support and cushion but do not feel the need for other extras on these since I use them very rarely. I have not had much luck with devices which cover standard chairs or car seats. The heat/vibration qualities in some of these types of things are generally useless to me because they are often too general (over too large of a region) and too subtle (not enough heat or vibration to be effective). Those features also tend to be the first to break. As far as stadium seating support, I highly recommend it if you go to these types of functions a lot.

Type: Lumbar roll (tend to attach to existing chairs/furniture)

Pros: Provides support and firm pressure in the lumbar area. Easy to find. Easy to use.

Cons: Unattractive. Some people are sensative to the exact size/shape of the roll.

Personal Experience: I have lumber rolls fixed to my work chairs only and find them very helpful.

Type: Neck (meaning a neck brace rather than a neck pillow)

Pros: Provides support and firm pressure in the neck area. Easy to use.

Cons: Restriction of movement and therefore vision in some cases such as while driving. Can weaken the neck over time if used too much as the neck comes to depend on the support.

Personal Experience: I do not recommend these unless injured and instructed by a physician to use one.

Type: Body pillows (like a standard pillow but are generally softer and are the length of the body)

Pros: One piece support that can "roll with you" at night while sleeping.

Cons: Bulky and sometimes heavy.

Personal Experience: I like body pillows but they don't tend to give the same support as foam firm pillows placed in specific locations.

Type: Foot (Example: arch supports inside the feet).

Pros: Good foot support tends to decrease foot and bunion pain as well as everything north of it (knee, hip, etc). If you have bunions diagnosed by a doctor and a doctors order, these may be covered by insurance.

Cons: Good foot supports should be custom made and can be costly if buying out of pocket ($150-500).

Personal Experience: I have arch supports and they helped me enormously. I always wear them for exercise and most of the time for leisure walking.