There are several types of exercise programs that doctors recommend to help treat your back pain. In fact, exercises are becoming one of the most effective treatments for back pain. Understanding some of the main types of exercise programs will help us seek the right treatment for our back pain.
Core Strength or Core Stabilization program aims to work on the abdominal and other postural muscles to create and maintain the ideal alignment of the spine. Core strengthening also helps to build your body mechanisms which would help you avoid back strain when you are performing your daily chores. Most importantly, core strengthening leads to back pain relief.
The Core
The body core is described as the pressurized cavity that is capable of supporting a lot of exertion. The abdominal muscles are the key core muscles. Other muscles in the core include the pelvis and the back muscles.
By strengthening these muscles one achieves better alignment of the back. Furthermore, core strengthening will give you strong and flexible trunk muscles that will properly support your well aligned back bone.
Core strengthening programs are known by many names- lumbar stabilization, cervical stabilization, core support, Pilates, and trunk exercises. You can go for programs that have been recommended by your doctor or you can seek a personal trainer.
The program that you select should be right for you. You need to find a program that is right for your level of ability and effective for your injury or condition. In other words, if you are suffering from back pain and you have never exercised before, you need to start at the beginner’s level. And remember to take things slowly.
Yoga For Back Pain
Yoga is often recommended to help relieve back pain. Yoga is very effective in strengthening body muscles and making your body flexible. However, before you start with yoga, make sure that you know the exact way of doing it. Not all poses are right for every one. For instance, there are certain poses that should not be tried by people with back problems. On the other hand, there are poses in yoga that are specifically designed to deal with back problems.
It is best to seek advice of a professional yoga teacher to help you with your back problems.
Aquatic Therapy
Aquatic therapy or water exercise is another common exercise recommended for back pain. Aquatic therapy makes use of the unique properties (buoyancy and drag) of water to help strengthen your back muscles and also other body muscles. Furthermore, water provides a safe environment for exercising your muscles. In water, the constraints of gravity are removed and this allows you to workout more.
The buoyancy in water provides support to weak and injured muscles and allows you to do exercises that you would not have been able to do on land. Furthermore, it also takes the pressure off your joints. This allows you to perform various movements with ease.
The drag property of water builds resistance. When you exercise against resistance you develop muscle strength. Thus exercising in water is a great way to build abdominal and back strength and to stabilize your lower back.
Not Meant For
Water exercises are quite effective in relieving back pain; however, they are not for everyone.
• They are not for those who have a fear of water.
• Those with neurological disease should check with their doctor first.
• Those suffering from epileptic seizures should first consult their doctor and take their medication before stepping in the water.
• Those with a heart condition would need to be monitored closely in the pool. Consult your doctor before you begin water exercises.
• Those with open wounds or skin infections should not do water exercises.
• Water exercises are also not recommended for those with flu or other infectious diseases, because it can worsen your condition. You can also infect others.
• If you have problem controlling your bowel or bladder, water exercises are not for you.
The above mentioned exercise programs are very effective in treating back pain. Consult your doctor before you start with a program!