Lead author Ingrid van Duijvenbode of the Amsterdam School for Health Professionals (OTCBB:HPFS) in the Netherlands said although many people use lumbar supports to bolster the back muscles, they are no more effective than lifting education -- or no treatment whatsoever -- in preventing related pain or reducing disability in those who suffer from the condition.

Van Duijvenbode and colleagues looked at 15 studies -- seven prevention and eight treatment studies -- that involved more than 15,000 people.

The review, published in The Cochrane Library, found little or no difference between people who used supports and their peers who didn't.

"There is moderate evidence that lumbar supports do not prevent low back pain or sick leave more effectively than no intervention or education on lifting techniques in preventing long-term low back pain," Van Duijvenbode said in a statement. "There is conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of lumbar supports as treatment compared to no intervention or other interventions."