Wearing a back brace for heavy lifting can ease pain for low back sprains and strains. A back support belt can also help avoid further tearing or injury to the ligaments.

Heavy lifting without proper protection can easily hurt the lower back. In fact, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention reports that back injuries account for nearly 20 percent of all work-related injuries. Sprains and strains are the main causes of lower back injury. They contribute to most of the acute back pain that people experience. Sprains and strains are often caused by overstretching or tearing ligaments, which often occurs when lifting an object improperly or something that is too heavy.