Contraindications: When the harness cannot be safely used

• When loading of the hip, pelvic, abdominal, or chest regions is prohibited by physician’s orders
• Acute fractured rib- until new bone formation begins
• Over wound vacuum-assisted closures (vac) in harness region
• Pregnancy

Strong Precautions:  When treatment requires specific consultation with the physician 

• DVT- Consult to determine individual movement restrictions.
• Spondylolisthesis- Consult to determine positional and movement restrictions.
• Large Disc Bulge/Rupture with acute or worsening neurological signs
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm- Consult to determine if increasing intra-abdominal pressure with harness wear is acceptable
• Known metastasis in harness region- Adapt harness; avoid manual/mechanical overpressure.
• Wounds under the area the harness contacts- consult to examine the risks and benefits.

Harness Precautions: When harness use can be considered with appropriate modification 

• Gastrointestinal Tube (consider rolled washcloths or foam cutout around site for pressure relief)
• Colostomy (empty bag before applying harness; consider rolled washcloths or foam cutout around site for pressure relief)
• Baclofen pump (consider rolled washcloths or foam cutout around site for pressure relief)
• Catheter (pad around site for pressure relief; use rolled washcloth or foam strip parallel to tubing as it exists under groin piece)
• Compromised Skin Integrity (pad bony or delicate areas, keep sessions short, frequent skin checks)
• Absent Sensation (pad bony or delicate areas, keep sessions short, frequent skin checks, aggressively monitor blood pressure)
• Metastatic Disease (limit hands-on facilitation, no pressure over areas of known metastasis)
• Acute Post Hip Surgery (pad alongside incision for comfort- use strips of foam or rolled washcloths to create a tunnel for pressure relief)*

* For hip adduction precautions, consider detaching groin piece on affected side if groin piece causes adduction moment. Or use harness leg straps accessory.

When groin condition prevents comfortable/safe use of the groin piece, consider using harness leg straps accessory. Ex: Groin infection, skin graft or other recent surgery in groin region, orchiditis, scrotal edema