Making adjustments is key to getting the most benefit from the Body Braid. Adjusting to a looser fit gives a more soothing, supportive feel that stays comfortable for longer. The gentle sensation is retraining your proprioception (the body’s ability to feel how your different parts are connected and coordinated).

Adjusting to a tighter fit gives a more intense, powerful, and athletic effect.  This can be invigorating, but is also tiring.

Everyone’s body is different, and so are their reactions to the Body Braid. This can be impacted by your body’s condition, your level of proprioception with and without the Braid, and how often you use it. 

The initial benefits usually relate to how good it feels. If it feels satisfying to use, this is a sign of positive impact, even if chronic pains or instability persist. You may start to get more feedback from your body, both while using it and after. It can take practice and patience to understand what your body is telling you – especially if its whispering. If you start to get sensations that you aren’t sure how to interpret, consider if taking the Braid off, adjusting the straps, or gently exploring soft movement.

The Body Braid’s biggest impact is to the fascia (the dense, fibrous connective tissue that interpenetrates and surrounds the muscles, bones, organs, nerves and blood vessels of the body). Muscles stretch and relax quickly, but fascia takes longer to relax. This can be especially true for hypermobile individuals, as the fascia can be particularly dysfunctional. 

We recommend working up to 45-minute sessions. This allows time for the connective tissues to go from their habitual tightness to the full range of mobility without the strain. It is important to slowly work up to 45 minutes, and to pay attention to how your body reacts during that time! After 45 minutes, you’ve likely reached the peak fascial changes, but you can build up to wearing it longer as long as it feels supportive and comfortable.

While the Body Braid is an orthopedic support, it is not what most people commonly imagine when thinking of an orthopedic brace. Rigid, restrictive braces can weaken tissue with overuse, but the Body Braid’s elastic bands guides postural muscles to work together without impeding healthy ranges of motion. 

Unlike many tools that aim to push the body into a "correct" but static alignment, Body Braid allows you to adjust to the feel it gives you. By tuning the bands to optimize comfort, you create a dialogue with your musculoskeletal system that allows for efficient and strain-free movement. 

When proper duration is built up, the Body Braid can be used for long periods of time without causing muscle weakening. Many users find that they get stronger while using the Body Braid regularly, as it enables them to be more active.

As long as you slowly build up to it, any length of time that feels comfortable and supportive is good. Any discomfort is a sign to take a break.

No, simply slide the straps on your thighs forward and down and readjust after. This video demonstrates the process.

It’s up to personal preference. Some may enjoy the enhanced feedback of having it directly against skin, others may find it irritating.

If you wear a layer underneath it, a thin and form-fitting breathable or wicking fabric is often the most comfortable.

You can wear it underneath clothing in the Core Braid Adjusted For Any Activity, with or without the Leg straps. How much you can hide the fact that you have it underneath your clothes at all will vary. If you want ideas of how people style their Body Braids, look at the photos in the Forum or Body Braid Banter.

Certain types of clothing may make adjusting the Body Braid under clothes more difficult. The tension may shift as you move around, or you may feel the need to adjust through the day to accommodate your body’s needs. The easier you can access different regions of the Braid, the easier it will be (i.e. you might not enjoy wearing it under a jumpsuit). 

As long as the Body Braid feels comfortably supportive, you can use it. We have seen customers use it during hiking, running, horseback riding, weight lifting, and kayaking, just to name a few!

Be cautious if considering using the Body Braid while asleep. The tension can adjust while you move around in sleep, and either loosen too much to provide support or tighten enough to cause discomfort. Since it's a flexible structure that moves with the body, it won't hold you in place quite like a rigid brace would.

If you are determined to try it, only do so after you have become very familiar with it and feel confident using it for long periods. Start with it on the looser side, and use stabilizing crosses to keep it in place better.