Rib Brace Daily Usage Guide
Many people will use a Rib Brace when they have minor rib injuries or are recovering after surgery. But most of them only know it as “a band to tie the chest tight”, and miss the right way to make it work well.
A Rib Brace is a medical support that fits the shape of your chest. Unlike common sports rib protectors, it does not work for hard exercise. Its main job is to put soft pressure on your chest, limit too much chest movement, and cut down the pain when you breathe or cough. This creates a steady environment for your ribs to heal.
The most common mistake people make is to tie it as tight as possible. They feel less pain at first, but soon they find it hard to breathe. This even raises the risk of lung problems. The right tightness should let you easily put one finger between the brace and your chest. You can feel the support, but it will not stop you from breathing normally.
You also need to wear it step by step. In the first painful days, you can wear it all day except when you clean your skin. As the pain gets lighter, you can reduce the wearing time to 8 to 12 hours a day. You should not use it for more than 6 weeks in total. If you depend on it for too long, the muscles around your chest will get weaker, and your recovery will slow down.
At last, remember that a Rib Brace is only a helper for recovery. It cannot fix all rib injuries. If you feel hard to breathe, your skin goes purple, or the pain suddenly gets worse, take it off right away and see a doctor.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Medroot Medical for more information.