Lower Back Support for Serious Motorcycle Riders

We’ve recommended kidney belts before as a good idea for improving endurance when riding long distances. The small but constant impacts that get through the suspension, and the less-than-ideal posture that many bikes force you to adopt, can all put a strain on the kidneys and lower back over time.

As our Physical Motorcycling expert Dr. Paul Kuhn has pointed out, proper posture is most important to comfort. Lumbar lordosis, or the natural reverse curvature of the lower spine when standing, is what we should also preserve when riding.

The Back-A-Line is designed to create that posture all the time. More than a simple support belt, its back portion is actually a stiff shaped pad about 1” thick that keys into the shape of your lower back. Relieved in the center to provide a comfortable groove for your spinal column, it fits very naturally and is not uncomfortable to wear, whether

walking or sitting. Worn under your waistband, it doesn’t make your pants any tighter than an elastic belt.

It’s retained by a pair of overlapping 4” velcro wraps on the front, which are backed up by a second 2” velcro belt that passes through a nylon ring and locks back against itself, again with velcro. Unlike most kidney belts, neither strap is elastic, which the manufacturer contends actually create muscle weakness. The rigid design, on the other hand, is said to create beneficial intra-abdominal pressure and isometric resistance. The construction quality is very high and the belt is claimed to last three times as long as stretchy types, which, as we know, eventually lose their elasticity. Although originally designed to reduce workplace back injuries, we found the device provided excellent long-ride comfort (tested for 1800 miles over four days). It works like a back-rest that you can wear all day.
— Dave Searle

•      Maintaining good posture ALL THE TIME, whether lifting or not, overcomes the cause of back pain. But how can you do that?

•  The Back-A-Line belt incorporates a curved, firm lumbar pad to which the spine will naturally conform. More importantly, several studies have shown that the pressure of such a firm curved surface against the muscles reduces back pain.  
   

Look here for our complete line of lower back supports

Back a Line Brace	Back Belt for tool belt	Maternity Back Support
$49.99	$53.99 Tool Pouches and belt not included.	$59.99
Size BAL - XL (39-44 in.) BAL - L (35-40 in.) BAL - M (31-36 in.) BAL - S (27-32 in.) BAL - XS (23-28 in.) BAL - XXL (43-48 in.) BAL - ZZ (45 - 52 in.)	Size BAL - XL (39-44 in.) BAL - L (35-40 in.) BAL - M (31-36 in.) BAL - S (27-32 in.)	Size Large Medium Small

Testimonials for Back-A-Line

Sports Medicine-In receiving the Seal of Acceptance (their only endorsement ever granted), Back-A-Line was reviewed by several noted physicians. Some of their comments:

"The rigid, firm lumbar support is ideal.. I like a non-stretch belt with a lumbar curve added."

"The belt promotes good postural alignment, creating balanced muscle activity for proper muscle function."

Ergonomic- The Industrial Hygiene Association's Ergonomist of the year-1994, a consistent critic of industrial back belts, writes:

"Your concept of a stiffer form-fitted back belt is appealing, and is much more consistent with my own thinking than many of the soft pliable belts."

Chiropractic- International lecturer, Inventor of the "Back Companion" and other health related products, Dr. Guy Doran writes:

"The stiff, rounded quality of your lumbar pad maintains the proper lordotic alignment to protect the lower spine. Promoting good posture alone should be a major contributor to back pain reduction, but the pressure of your pad against the back muscles seems to provide a further alleviating effect.
AOASM-In a later endorsement, the academy addressed the most controversial issue in back support, muscle atrophy (weakening of the muscles from disuse).

"We particularly like Back-A-Line's design when compared with the common elastic belts.The risk of muscle atrophy is caused by elastic belts doing the work that the muscles would normally be recruited to do.In contrast, Back-A-Line, with its non-stretch belt, will stimulate the abdominal muscles by providing resistance for them. Similarly, with its lumbar pad to promote lordosis, the belt should stimulate the erector muscles as well."

The Industrial Athlete   - A national network of physicians advising corporations to adopt sports medicine principles for industrial employees, providing them with conditioning, personal protective equipment and effective rehabilitation. To that end, they write:

"The Back-A-Line belt helps accomplish these three functions".  As the #1 category of industrial injury costs, the low back should be given a high priority. Back-A-Line, along with an effective exercise program, helps to significantly reduce that risk."
 

Orthopedic- A major medical school study states, conceptually:

"A smoothly contoured, firm surface therefore appears to be a desirable feature of an orthosis."

"It provides a proprioceptive and apparent pain blocking effect."
 

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