A lot of people won’t like hearing this, but exercise is your number BFF for combating painful back conditions. And, while it may sound counter-intuitive to tell you that exercising with lower back pain is the best thing you can do, you should work through the pain to come out the other side feeling better.
I know I talk a lot about exercise at this blog. I’m an active person myself, so what I’m speaking from not just a clinical, but a personal standpoint. I know what exercise does for me and I want to share those benefits with my patients – especially those of you who suffer from lower back pain.
Exercising with lower back pain: should you work through the pain? The answer is “yes” and the time is now.
All exercise is not created equal
For people with lower back pain, choosing the right exercise regime is what’s going to make the difference. Not all exercise is going to be helpful and yes. Some of it may be wrong for your condition.
But it’s also important to note that exercise can come along with muscle soreness and tightness. That’s what stretching before and after your workout are designed to help with. Especially if you’ve been away from exercise for a while, or if it’s completely new to you, treating your body with respect by stretching and warming up before you start and cooling down correctly when you’re done are best practices.
But if you find that a certain exercise makes your back pain worse to the point that you’re out of commission, that’s not the right exercise.
Talk to your doctor
If you’ve been suffering from back pain for some time and have been afraid to exercise because of it, a visit to your doctor can clear up any misgivings.
Your doctor knows your situation, so you’re going to get advice that’s built on a solid clinical foundation. For my money, this is the most fool-proof way of getting on track to feeling more like yourself. With your doctor’s help, you can find the best way to exercise with lower back pain.
Low impact alternatives
High impact exercise can make your back pain worse. You may already know that because you’ve tried. Exercises like running, for example, are probably not your best bet.
You’re much more likely to find relief with aquatic fitness, cycling (even stationary cycling), Yoga, walking, or a form of dance. Women (and some men) with back pain may want to explore forms of dance like Middle Eastern. The undulating motions build up muscles in the abdomen and back (the core), as well as other muscle groups, gently and gradually. Plus, it’s fun.
And fun should be part of any therapeutic exercise plan.
Back & Body Medical
Back & Body’s award-winning, diversified pain relief model is now available in New Jersey. We specifically target pain by deploying treatments as diverse as chiropractic, acupuncture, sports medicine and physical therapy.
We have your wellbeing in mind. Ready to exercise? Contact us!
