HEALTH & WELLNESS
A gun belt can be a heavy burden Learn how to lighten the load and prevent injury
DR. ROBERT KAYAL
Dr. Robert Kayal answers your questions about how to alleviate back and neck pain caused by law enforcement officials’ gun belts. My lower back is killing me. Any chance my gun belt is the culprit?
Yes. As you know, your gun belt allows you to keep your hands free while giving you easy access to essential equipment, including your handgun, handcuffs, radio, flashlight, baton, pepper spray, latex gloves, tourniquet kit, Taser and more. Fully loaded, your gun belt can weigh as much as 20 pounds. That’ s a lot of extra weight to carry around your hips— weight that is constantly bearing down on your spine and lower back. The problem can be even worse when you’ re driving around in a patrol car most of the day. The gun belt can cause a lot of pressure on your abdomen and the front of your pelvis. So, gun belts can take a heavy toll on your lower back, but they also can affect your hips, pelvis, knees, spine, abdomen and other parts of your body. Can I do anything to prevent the pain?
There are several things you can do. Some departments are using alternatives to gun belts such as utility vests, suspenders, gun outriggers and form-fitting posture garments. If you are using a gun belt, you should not place handcuffs or other hard objects on the back of the belt near your spine. When you’ re sitting in the car, hard objects will press against your spine and cause back pain. In addition, if you fall with a hard object in the back of your belt, you could do serious damage to your spine. Instead, put a soft object, such as your latex gloves, in the back of your gun belt. When it comes to your flashlight, it doesn’ t have to be large and heavy to be powerful. Opt for a smaller, lighter and more compact model. To reduce pain caused by the gun belt itself, try a belt that has rounded, padded edges that won’ t dig into your ribs and is made of nylon instead of leather for greater comfort. Also, make sure your belt is not fastened too tightly, which can exacerbate pelvic and hip pain. Finally, make sure you’ ve adjusted your patrol car seat so that you’ re in a comfortable position that causes as little strain as possible from your gun belt. Should I consult a doctor?
If you experience chronic pain in your lower back, pelvis or hips, it’ s important to schedule an appointment with a skilled and experienced orthopaedist, physical therapist or other specialist, preferably a sports medicine specialist, for proper diagnosis and treatment. Too often, trying to power through the pain results in more serious injuries. At Kayal Orthopaedic Center, our elite team of surgeons has the tools, training and experience to provide you with the treatment— and relief— you deserve. d
Robert A. Kayal, MD, FAAOS, is the founder, president and CEO of Kayal Orthopaedic Center, P. C., which has three state-of-the-art facilities in Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock and Westwood, N. J. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, a fellow of the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a repeat“ New Jersey Top Doctor,”“ Castle-Connolly Top Doctor” and recipient of“ Vitals. com Patients’ Choice Award.”
76 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ FEBRUARY 2018