Has anyone had experience with using a waist trainer whilst jumping to help support a bad back?
Would love to hear people’s experiences with how it went, before I go try it out for myself!
I have only ever used spanx to ride with my back, and it made a huge difference. Those waist trainers dont offer a ton of support from what my doctors have told me (Ive ended up getting a back brace and it was brought up in discussion).
Not that I’ve had much experience with waist trainers, I have to admit I wouldn’t want anything that might possibly limit my breathing on me while I’m riding.
That said, I’ve looked into back braces, and I know Professional’s Choice does/did make one and Back On Track definitely has one. I’d go that or some other sort of athletic brace route first.
1 Like
Get one made for athletic activities, not one of the apparel type ones that aren’t much more then a girdle or aren’t made to move with you.
1 Like
I’ve got a BOT back brace. It does zilch for actual support, but the warming effect does help keep my back from tightening up and feeling awful later on. I typically only use it if my back is already sore before my ride.
I’m not sure why anyone would want to ride in a corset.
4 Likes
Didn’t realise Back On Track had back braces! Will definitely invest in one of these instead… Thanks all!
Waist trainers have a tendency to constrict and impede internal organs and bones (such as your ribcage), especially with activities such as jumping. What helps my back is jumping in my cross country vest. It keeps your back straight, and holds in it the correct position, eliminating any unnecessary stress or concussion.
2 Likes
BOT is not meant to support at all. Only for the therapeutic effect the of the ceramic material; warming up your back.
The Professional choice brace is the one to get if you need real support. It’s a really good product.
I have a back brace very similar to the Professional’s Choice one. It’s the only way my back will put up with jumping the bigger stuff. The only problem I’ve had is that it’s really hot in the summer.
I use the Mueller back brace every time I ride (I would link to it but it’s difficult on my phone); it’s very stretchy and non-constricting, but it supports my lumbar spine – it’s also unobtrusive and i’ve competed in it without any comments from any judges or bystanders 
It hasn’t impeded my ability to jump fences of all heights, and even do cross country. If anything, it helps with my posture when doing dressage. I do a lot of core strengthening exercises to help support my aging lower back, but the brace helps whenever I am doing “horse related heavy lifting” and also riding, I really don’t feel it when I have it on.
It’s not terribly spendy, so give it a try and see if it works for you! I tried the professional’s choice but it just wasn’t supportive enough.
Don’t use a waist trainer! Those aren’t meant for athletic use! They’re designed to constrict and hold and that’s not what you want. You need something that will support but also move with you.
After hip surgery I needed something that helped stabilize my lower back and hips. I bought a lower back brace from Walgreens. It was a soft, neoprene type material with maybe some foam or something stronger to help provide support. I wore it low on the hips/lower back and it really helped everything feel more secure and strong while I was rebuilding my strength and confidence.
The only downside is that it was hot.
You could also ask a physio about stretches, and I noticed a HUGE difference in my back’s ability to cope when I took up rock climbing and my core got stronger as a consequence… now I do regular core workouts 3-4x a week and I’ve not had to see the chiro in months! Building those muscles can make your own “support” and take the strain off your skeletal system.
1 Like
I have been wearing a back brace while riding for YEARS, now; have a lot of low back issues and the support is extremely helpful. I used to use the Mueller back braces but recently ordered this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0…?ie=UTF8&psc=1
which is actually not as thick as it appears here. It is less bulky than the Mueller, and just as effective. I use it whenever doing things around the barn; lifting, grooming, stretching my horse/doing bodywork, setting fences, moving poles, etc.
I wish I could share a pic of me riding in it so that you could see how NON bulky it actually is! I can wear it under a show jacket (over a show shirt when jackets are waived) and under my body protector when doing x-country. It adds a small layer of thickness under the jacket but it’s not really noticeable and doesn’t really change the fit.
I originally had a “MEDICAL” back brace (prescribed by a doctor), and it was WAY bulky; I couldn’t fold up over fences because it got in the way of my ribcage when I bent over (I’m pretty small, 5’3" and about 120#), but the OTC ones are much more flexible - they in NO WAY interfere when I’m jumping, and I’ve done every conceivable x-country question (in addition to ring jumping) without issue.
You aren’t supposed to wear them all the time because it weakens your back muscles, but I find the support to be essential to mitigating pain.
That said, I ALSO do core work 7 days a week, Feldenkrais for balance, symmetry, and alignment - and am a student of Mary Wanless; correct biomechanics and strength and flexibility in the right places is critical to riding effectively with or without the brace. I also stretch strategically and thoroughly several times a day, and use an inversion table.
The brace helps stabilize my low back (I have disk issues as well as pain from trigger points), and at 63 I’m hoping to ride as long as possible I would recommend buying from Amazon and trying it out - if you don’t find it helpful you can always return it!
Heads up that this is an older thread that was bumped by spam. 
LOL, I did notice - but thought weighing in might still be helpful to someone
Also, I had previously commented, but my post was blank? for some reason. I promise that I said nothing inflammatory or rule breaking (just suggestions on back braces), but maybe it was deleted because I shared a link??
@Dr. Doolittle It may have been coincidentally stuck in the moderation queue and then was approved. I’m not sure if the anti-spam filters get extra sensitive on a thread based on previous posts that were suspect or something. I cleared out a lot of them earlier today and I can’t remember if yours was one of them.
No problem to add to an older thread when they happen to get revived…I just wanted to give a heads up!
Ah, okay - thanks for the clarification!
You can get a custom fit metal boned riding corset. I would do it in mesh for riding. It can be cut to be shorter and more allowing than a standard corset. Worth looking into, but it will not be cheap. PM me for corsetieres.
