As an occupational therapist, I like to have each patient think about their back not as one separate area of their body, but as a portion of their "core." The core is the barrel-shaped center of the body, sometimes called your trunk. It is composed of the back muscles, the abdominal muscles and the pelvic muscles.
When you have a condition that causes back pain, chances are your core has lost some of its strength, either from your injury or simply from lack of use. Strengthening the core again can improve stability. When the core muscles are balanced, the spinal column has better support. This not only improves posture, but can also reduce certain types of muscle pain. In addition, low-impact aerobic exercise is thought to be beneficial for the intervertebral disks, which are the tiny cushions between each spinal bone.
Some examples of exercise that can be good for your back include:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Tai Chi
- Stationary biking (just be sure the bike is adjusted to fit you)
If you have chronic back pain, there is usually no need to avoid simple exercise. However, you should consult your doctor first before beginning any exercise program.
For more on starting an exercise program when you have chronic back pain, check out Exercises to Relieve Back Pain by about.com’s Guide to back and neck pain.
Read more about exercising with chronic pain.
Source:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Back Pain. Accessed 4/6/10. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Back_Pain/default.asp
