The public is becoming more aware of the importance of simple mechanical modalities available to help treating injuries of mechanical origin.

The Core Awareness Belt is a waist belt with a small rectangular block at the lumbar (low back) spine for the patient to feel when the core (deep trunk) muscles are too relaxed. When the core muscles are not engaged to keep the 'stomach in with a hollow back' , the abdominal circumference increases to press against the firm waist belt. The belt therefore acts as a biofeedback device to remind the patient to hold the abdomen in and to maintain a lumbar lordosis (S-curve) . Once the patient feels the belt, he/she knows that he/she is not engaging the core muscles well. Such feedback of course depends on how tight the belt is put on. The belt should therefore be worn comfortably firm and tight when the core muscles are gently engaged (stomach tucked in with normal lumbar lordosis, hence reduced abdominal circumference). The patient should then engage the core muscles a little more to reduce the abdominal circumference further so as to 'loosen' the belt. Such position or posture and muscle contraction state are normal and should be maintained at all times. The intensity of the muscle contraction may vary depending on different activity of daily living. The more forward leaning or the heavier objects to lift, the more the muscle contraction (i.e. the less abdominal circumference) is required. Patients may therefore use any waist belt they have or even a back brace. If used appropriately, a back brace may act as a Core Awareness Belt instead of just being a support to be relied on.