Are the Exercises You’re Doing for Your Lower Back Pain Actually Making it Worse?

lower back pain exercisesDid you know of all the treatment options available for lower back pain today, exercises have proven to be one of the most effective? Unfortunately, even when one decides they want to commit to a lower back pain exercises, most people have no idea what they should do or where they should go for guidance. Many times, people try exercises their friend at work did to get rid of his back pain. Or, they try exercises their Aunt Jane swears by because they helped her back pain years ago. 

 

So, why is it so difficult to know who to listen to or where to go for help? It’s because we’re living in an age of information overload! If you search the internet right now, you will find everything from heat patches, magnets, back rollers, some “magical” drugs/herbs and other miracle cures, and even a few web sites promoting physical therapists, chiropractors, back surgeons, and acupuncturists. How in the world does anyone know who to trust in helping to alleviate his or her back pain? Since my goal is to make you a more informed consumer, let’s discuss the major cause of back pain, why exercises are so important in eliminating your back pain, and why choosing the wrong ones can even be harmful for your back!

 

The Major Cause of Back Pain

There are many causes of lower back pain, but the majority of cases are mechanical in nature. This means they are not caused from a serious injury or disease. Simply put, mechanical back pain is caused from muscle imbalances, sustained postures, and poor movement patterns over a period of time. All of these factors put unnecessary stress on the discs, ligaments, and muscles of the spine.

 

Effective Exercises for Back Pain

To effectively combat the most common cause of back pain, let’s discuss a few of the vital components your program must include.

 

  • Lumbar stabilization exercises– These are exercises targeting your “core,” which are the muscles that help protect your back. Some of them are muscles that attach directly to the spine, while some of them have an affect on the back through their indirect attachments. Most people think of their “core” simply as their abdominal muscles, which is not entirely accurate. To ensure you’re targeting the right muscles, watch the back pain exercise videos on our web-site. These exercises will guide you through the same basic lumbar stabilization exercises we teach in our physical therapy clinics.

 

  • Stretching – Back pain stretchesare one of the most effective, yet often overlooked keys to eliminating lower back pain. Just like the back pain exercise videos and back pain exercise pictures on our site, we’ve also compiled some back pain stretches that can help get you started on improving your flexibility today.

 

  • Posture Exercises–Our back has the effects of poor posture exerted on it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is why I am so big on proper posture and movement patterns. Since posture and poor movement patterns are such a huge contributor to lower back pain, you have to work on improving these things on a daily basis. Doing so is not only crucial to decreasing lower back pain, but it is also a key to increasing your general health and your body’s overall performance!

 

Why are Exercises so Effective for Eliminating Lower Back Pain?

Exercises are so effective because they help decrease muscle imbalances, improve core stability, and improve posture. Remember, these three things are key contributors to the most common cause of back pain. They are also important because a strong core decreases the stress on the lumbar spine by about 30%!

 

How Can Exercises Make My Pain Worse?

Because there are many causes of back pain, there is no “one size fits all” treatment program. If you have back pain caused by a hyper mobility (too much mobility in the spine), doing exercises from the McKenzie protocol, or some different yoga stretches, will actually worsen your problem. For that reason, it is imperative you become informed on the causes of back pain and understand the likely cause for your pain.

 

In summary, I want to empower you to take control of your back pain today. Remember, exercises are one of the most important things you can do to eliminate your back pain and get back to living the life you deserve.