The high frequency of self-prescribed bracing may be the result of the clinical community's reluctance to prescribe these devices. Approximately half of Alberta spine clinicians believe that spine bracing results in muscle atrophy and/or future dependency on braces. Conversely, recent work from our laboratory has shown that after two weeks of brace wearing, the volume of spinal muscles remains unchanged in asymptomatic subjects (i.e. no brace-induced atrophy was caused)