Prescriptions.plus SupportLine Bracing: back, knee, ankle, elbow, wrist and cervical braces

What SupportLine Bracing is

Braces come in rigid, hinged and soft styles. A rigid brace holds an area firmly in place. A hinged brace allows some movement — often bending at the knee or elbow — while controlling side-to-side motion. A soft brace offers lighter support and compression. Your doctor decides which, if any, fits your injury.

Fit matters as much as style. A brace that's too loose won't support the area; one that's too tight can cause swelling, numbness or skin problems. Your doctor or a fitter will size it for you.

Prescriptions.plus SupportLine Bracing is our program name for braces supplied through our medical-supply partner when a doctor prescribes them. Prescriptions.plus doesn't sell, bill or prescribe them.

Work and auto injuries cover a wide range: a lumbar brace after a lifting strain, a hinged knee brace after a ligament injury on a ladder, a wrist brace for carpal tunnel symptoms from repetitive work, or a cervical collar after a collision. The right choice depends on the injury and the stage of recovery.

• Back (lumbar) braces
• Knee braces
• Ankle braces
• Elbow braces
• Wrist braces
• Cervical collars

How it's generally worn at home

Your doctor will tell you when to wear the brace — all day, only during activity, at night, or some combination — and when you can take it off. Follow those instructions closely; wearing a brace more or less than prescribed can both cause problems.

Practise putting the brace on and taking it off while someone at the clinic can check. Many people find it hardest to fasten a brace on their own at home, especially a back brace or a wrist brace on the dominant hand. A photo of the correct position can help.

Keep the skin underneath clean and dry. Wearing a thin layer between the brace and your skin, if your doctor allows it, can reduce rubbing.

If you return to work on modified duty, ask your doctor whether you should wear the brace at work, and whether there are tasks you should avoid while wearing it.

• Wear it for the hours and activities your doctor specifies
• Fasten straps snugly but not tightly
• Check your skin daily for red marks that don't fade
• Clean the brace as instructed

Who prescribes it — and questions to ask your doctor

Braces are prescribed by many kinds of doctors: orthopedic surgeons, spine specialists, sports medicine physicians, podiatrists, hand surgeons, occupational medicine doctors and others who treat work and auto injuries.

Use these questions to understand your plan.

• Which style — rigid, hinged or soft — and why?
• How long should I wear it each day?
• Should I wear it at night?
• Can I take it off to shower or sleep?
• When should I stop wearing it?
• Will I need a different brace as I recover?

Safety considerations

Report new numbness, swelling or skin irritation to your doctor. Tingling in the fingers or toes, a limb that looks pale or bluish, or swelling above or below the brace can mean it's too tight.

Don't adjust a hinged brace's settings unless your doctor or fitter shows you how and says it's fine. Don't stop wearing a cervical collar or spinal brace early without your doctor's say-so.

If you have sudden severe pain, new weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control after a back or neck injury, get help right away. Medical emergency? Call 911.

Requesting more information

Patients, doctors and clinics, and employers or adjusters can request more information about Prescriptions.plus SupportLine Bracing using the form on this page.

For patients, your doctor decides which brace, if any, you need. Whether a workers' comp claim or auto policy covers a brace is something your adjuster or insurer can tell you.

If you use the form, mention the body area — back, knee, ankle, elbow, wrist or neck — so the information is relevant to you.