Dear Dr. Mirkin: What's the best exercise program for a person with back pain?
People with back pain need to exercise as much as anyone else. The best
sports
are those that do not hurt when you do them. The bones of your spine
are
located one on top of the other, separated by pads called discs. Bones
are much
harder than discs, so when spinal bones are compressed and move closer
together, they can flatten the discs like pancakes. Since the discs are
shorter,
they have to go somewhere else, so they widen and press on the nerves
near
them, causing pain. This is called a herniated disc. Anything that
presses the
bones closer together squashes the disc further and usually makes it
hurt more.
During running or jumping, the force of the foot striking the ground is
transmitted up the leg to the back, which can compress the discs and
cause
pain.
Riding a bicycle, walking or swimming do not exert a jarring force on
the discs
to compress them, so these exercises are recommended for people with
back pain
as long they don’t hurt while they exercise. Doctors often
recommend special
exercises to flatten the lower back, strengthen the belly muscles and
stretch
the lower back muscles. The key to exercising when you have a
compressed disc
is to stop exercising when you feel pain. You may need to try several
different
activities to find the right one for you.
