Thread: Kidney belts

Hi Bluegum,
I think motocross riders and such wear them, because of the buffeting they get. I guess that's a similar motion to going flatout in a bobcat! Do many other operators report the same thing?
We used to wear them as a matter of course working in a jet engine testing facility back in the RAAF. Something about long term exposure to vibration (and they used to rock the concrete in full afterburner, esp. kneeling right underneath!!), but its a different type of action on the body.

Cheers,

Most of them are elastic. I've got one of those and it did help a tiny bit. Then I got a non-strech one that I found a little bit better.
You probably realize that sitting in a chair all day is not good for your back. Mine was always worse driving to and from work (as a chippie). Don't keep your wallet in your back pocket (where you sit on it), and use a cushion for lumbar support whilst sitting as straight up vertical as you can.

Unfortunately, my back got worse, despite trying all sorts of therapies, to the point I was laid up for close to a year before I had an operation. Fixed up the problem except for a bit of a re-lapse where I pushed too hard (laying a block wall ), but it's not too bad at the moment.

I have one of these elastic style ones from my dirtbike riding days. It was not used to support my back but to stop my kidneys being hammered. Purchased it after urinating blood clots a couple of times, the belt stopped this problem.

Have seen weightlifters use a stiffer leather one, presumably for back support.

I personally think that if you were to use a support on a regular basis your lower back would become even weaker!

I start having problems with back pain when I am not doing physical work on a regular basis, obviously losing muscle tone and flexibility.

Hope you find a solution.

Hi bluegum

I wore one when I was off road racing and they were a godsend. The pain they helped with was the jarring that you felt with hitting ruts and stuff so if you are feeling jarring then I reckon they could help.

I can lend you one if you like.

From the point of view of having a rigid framed WW2 Harley, as well as having spent a decade or so pushing 'dozers, FELs and excavators around, I reckon a kidney belt is a damned good idea! I find the leather "weight-lifters" type to be more effective, although less comfortable, than the elastic ones... and they last longer. I've gone through more of 'em than I can recall, now.

But, as Stringy said, they can cause other problems if worn for extended periods. I'm prone to minor back problems now, which the chiros put down to weakened back muscles 'cos I'd put the belt on when I got to work and wear it until knock-off... and ditto if I took the bike out for the day.

I heartily recommend the use of one as an aid to prevent the ol' operator's ache... but for your sake don't let it become a crutch! Wear it while operating the machine, sure... but take it off every time you get out! Whether it's for some manual labour, a smoko, or whatever.

Trust me on that!

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

... and ditto if I took the bike out for the day.

But you would be pushing it most of the time......

Only uphill.

Ive seen them worn by forkies for the same problem. Id get a checkup first, might be something else (you know the old joke about the size 9 underpants....)

Thanks for the replies, I've been on and off trucks since about 98 and machines for about 2 years and its only seems to be extended time spent on the bobcat that seems to cause me any concerns. Even when dragging ramps on and off the truck is fine so I figured that it must have been more vibration than anything else. I had a previous back injury chaining down a load about 6 years ago but that hasn't caused me any worry for about 2 years. Its either that or maybe I do need bigger undies ( thanks Sebastiaan)

I wore one a few years ago when I was laying a 75 block limestone wall. It made a big difference for the first week or so especially when I was doing a shirt load of sand shovelling. After about 2 weeks and 22 cubic metres of sand later I didn't really need it. After two weeks I could also pick up a 72 kg limestone block by (gloved) hand and carry it for ~10 paces. Probably would find it useful again if I had to do something similar.