Frequently Asked Questions

It is a common misconception that when the pain is very low that the brace must be worn low in the area where the pain is. That is not the case. The brace is designed to sit between the Hip Bone and the Rib Cage. This way the built-in plastic bones will take some of the weight of the Torso and transfer it into the hips. This will relieve the spine in the lumbar and sacral region, well below the brace. By wearing the brace higher it also won’t slip anymore and you will notice how it provides even better relief. You won’t feel it immediately, give it 10 or 20 minutes of moving around doing the things you like to do. That will be the point where you notice the difference it makes as you will have less pain caused by these activities.

There is no fixed rule. It depends on your condition and you should always follow your doctor’s advice. Generally speaking the less you wear it the better. Avoid a dependency on the brace as this would lead to further weakening of your muscles. Only use the brace for temporary support and pain relief allowing you to get on with your life and remain active so that you can train your muscles.

The limitation to a few hours is a precaution for the unlikely event of an allergic reaction or heat rash. If you need to wear it for longer then we recommend to progressively increasing the amount of time carefully monitoring your skin. If you have no adverse reaction to the brace then the time limit does not apply to you.

You can wear it directly on your skin but it is strongly recommended to wear it on top of a shirt, ideally made from cotton or similar breathable and non slipping material. Materials such as silk as Nylon are not recommended. If you like to conceal the brace under clothing then we recommend dark and loose clothing as the brace will show through light or tight clothing.

The lower back braces are ideally suited for exercising. You will need to decide what type of back brace to use as different types have different properties:
The CM-102M Premium Back brace is by far the most comfortable and is very supportive whilst not restricting your movement. It is made from Neoprene and you will perspire. Some people see this as an advantage as it essentially also serves the function of a Weight Loss Belt. If you prefer to stay cooler then the CM-SB01 Breathable Mesh Back Brace will be the one for you. This seems to be the most popular choice for Athletes, particular runners.

Size REG measures 8” (20cm) at the back and 5” (12cm) at the front. Size LGE measures 9 ½” (24cm) at the back and 5” (12cm) at the front.

Good Back support is not defined by how tight the brace feels. The brace is supposed to be comfortable and ideally you hardly feel it at all, yet have good back support. The reason for this is how the brace actually works: The built-in plastic bones are positioned between your rib cage and hip bone such that some of the weight of your torso is being supported by your hip. This will provide relief to the spine in the lumbar and sacral region. For this to work the brace does not need to be very tight.

Whilst there is no debate about the benefit of back braces for recovery from an injury, there is some controversy about the use of back braces to prevent injury from lifting. Whilst back braces do offer additional support, the general advise is not to use them simply because of the “superman syndrome” where wearing the brace will provide a sense of security leading people to attempt heavier lifts than they normally would. If you however follow the safe lifting guidelines then the brace will offer a level of protection. To read up about it in detail follow this link: http://ergo-plus.com/back-belts-to-prevent-low-back-injuries/

The CM-102M Premium Back Brace has metal rings that may trigger the metal detector at airports (Generally for international flights only, domestic fright metal detectors are less sensitive). However, simply by showing the security staff the brace they will let you enter the plane, you will not be asked to remove the brace.

Yes it can. All ComfyMed Lower back braces are specifically designed to allow you to bend or sit down; they are much narrower at the front than at the back. However, because of the way they work they will offer little support to the spine when sitting down and absolutely no support when lying down.

No. Suspenders are pointless. If the brace slides down without suspenders then the brace is simply not supporting your back which is what it should be doing.

The Metal D-Rings are for the easier removal of the Velcro and easier tightening of the outer compression bands. They are particularly helpful for the elderly who are lacking the necessary strength.

There are a couple of possible reasons for the brace being too loose:
1. The brace could be too large.
2. The brace wasn’t applied correctly. Step 5 on page 2 of the Instruction Manual may have been omitted.
It is very important to pull down the back of the brace before tightening any of the straps.
You can also view this Instruction Video.
One important consideration is that the brace is not supposed to “force” your posture. Forcing it would take the work away from your muscles resulting in their deterioration and be making things worse.
Instead the CM-PB16 provides a gentle pull that acts as a constant reminder for keeping correct posture. This will train and strengthen your own muscles as well as developing a memory towards the ultimate goal of not needing the Posture Corrector anymore. So it requires a little bit of determination to train yourself to a better posture, you need to do the work; the brace will only assist you.

The nature of the posture correcting brace is to pull your shoulders back and the strap will always run under your arm. As such some discomfort is basically unavoidable. The ComfyMed CM-PB16 however tries to minimise this discomfort as much as possible but utilisation of padding as well as a unique waist band that, if applied correctly, will minimise the rubbing under the arm. It is very important to pull down the back of the brace before tightening any of the straps. To see how to do this, refer to 5 on page 2 of the Instruction Manual or watch the Instruction Video. The Brace is best worn over a shirt for additional comfort. This shirt should be cotton or similar. Slippery materials such as Silk or Nylon are not recommended. You should also avoid any activities that involve bending or leaning forwards while wearing this brace as that would cut into your arm pits.

There is no one answer. How often to wear it and how long for depends on your individual circumstances and you should follow your doctor’s advice. One thing that can be said is that the less you need to wear it the better, with the ultimate goal of eventually not needing it anymore. The brace is not supposed to “force” your posture. Forcing it would take the work away from your muscles resulting in their deterioration and be making things worse. Instead the CM-PB16 provides a gentle pull that acts as a constant reminder for keeping correct posture. This will train and strengthen your own muscles as well as developing a memory. So you would be wearing it on and off all day. You could for example wear it in the house and then take it off when you go outside by trying to keep the posture without it. One important consideration is that the posture correcting brace should not be worn for activities that involve bending or leaning forwards.

What you can smell is neoprene rubber which is a FDA approved material and poses absolutely no risk to your health. Some people cannot tolerate the smell of Neoprene but the only other rubber suitable for a medical device is Latex which smells even worse. Also, many people are allergic to Latex which makes Neoprene a better choice for the Brace. The smell will dissipate but it is hard to say how long it will take as it depends on so many factors, such as the temperature, the humidity, when it was manufactured and how long it was packaged, etc. Washing it will of course accelerate this process. If you are one of the very few unlucky Individuals that cannot tolerate Neoprene then please contact us at enquiries@comfymed.com.au so we can issue you with a full refund.

There are a couple of possible reasons for the waist strap sitting too high:
1. The brace could be too small.
2. The brace wasn’t applied correctly. Step 5 on page 2 of the Instruction Manual may have been omitted.
It is very important to pull down the back of the brace before tightening any of the straps.
You can also view this Instruction Video.
One important consideration is that the brace is not supposed to “force” your posture. Forcing it would take the work away from your muscles resulting in their deterioration and be making things worse.
Instead the CM-PB16 provides a gentle pull that acts as a constant reminder for keeping correct posture. This will train and strengthen your own muscles as well as developing a memory. So do not over tighten the brace. Over tightening it may result in the waist strap riding up.
If you are very active then it is unfortunately normal for the waist strap to come up. In this case the brace would require re-adjustment. So it is best worn over clothing to make this easy.

There are a few other factors coming into play such as how tall you are and the circumference of your arms. Generally, if you are taller you should go for LGE, otherwise REG. However, to be absolutely safe you should contact us by emailing enquiries@comfymed.com.au with your chest measurement as well as your height and weight and we will advise you accordingly.

If you have very rounded shoulders then the brace will slip down and not stay in place.

You can wear it directly on your skin but it is strongly recommended to wear it on top of a shirt, ideally made from cotton or similar breathable and non slipping material. Materials such as silk as Nylon are not recommended. If you like to conceal the brace under clothing then we recommend dark and loose clothing as the brace will show through light or tight clothing, particularly the buckles in front of the shoulders are a little bulky and would show. Another thing to consider is that if you are very active the brace might move and require adjustment which is much easier to do over clothing.

No. This brace is very restrictive and is intended to be used as a posture trainer, for relief with clavicle fractures or other applications where a figure 8 brace is prescribed by your doctor. It limits your movement, particularly bending forwards and it should only be used for light activities.

How long it takes to see results depends on how bad your posture is, how long you have been slouching for and how determined you are to make this work. The posture correcting brace is no miracle cure and does not work without your will to make it work. It will help you by reminding you to keep good posture but you need to do it yourself, training and strengthening your own muscles. We recommend to consult your doctor or chiropractor for advice best suited to your condition.

Yes you can.