Q: Hi Doc, I'm a former student of yours with a question. One of my patients works in heavy industry. Since he has low back pain, I recommended a back support ("like Home Depot"). He swears that someone came to his workplace and told them back supports were dangerous. Management now forbids the use of them. This is news to me. Do you have any knowledge of this type of situation? Also, where can I get info to start my own ergonomics classes? I have some ideas since I practice in a rural area (How about: "The ergonomics of bean picking"?) A: Thanks for your e-mail. A few years ago there was an industry study that the back supports did not do what they were created for and that it also gave a false sense of security to the wearer leading them to over exert. Depending on the company and their safety or specific supervisor .. they can come to this conclusion and recommend to not use the belt. Obviously .. this issue remains a heated debate with no clear answers. I prefer to recommend the belts as a means of having some support and to use it correctly. This means the initial larger flaps are clasped loosely and the outer smaller flaps are used only when the demand is needed. An ergonomic program stands with or without the discussion of the belts .. it includes proper lifting .. proper exercises .. proper understanding of their anatomy .. proper use of tools and their worksite etc. If you want information .. visit my webpage and look under weblinks and from there under ergonomics .. lots of links there.