When you have pain, the most common response is to take it easy – stopping all activity that makes the pain feel worse. You may even feel inclined to stay in bed or reclined on your sofa. Yet, back pain exercises can be your ticket to a faster recovery, and may even help you avoid the need for having back pain surgery in New York down the road.
Resting may be recommended while your back injury is in its acute phase, however after a day or two, remaining immobile can actually compromise the healing process. Contrary to what you might think, actively exercising your back in a gentle but targeted way is essential to the process of rehabilitating the spine and relieving back pain.
How Can Exercise Help with Back Pain?
Exercising the body gets the heart pumping, the blood flowing, and oxygen and other nutrients can more easily reach all the body’s tissues. By exercising the back in a gentle and controlled way, nutrients are effectively delivered to the disc spaces as well as muscles and other soft tissues in the back, and this keeps all parts of the back and spine healthy and flexible. By avoiding stiffness through back pain exercises, the back gets stronger and the experience of back pain is then mitigated.
Exercise can help in the following ways:
- Physical fitness and core body strength may help prevent back and spine injury in the first place
- Helps maintain a healthy weight – decreasing excess stress and pressure on the spine and back
- Maintains flexibility and muscle tone
- Reduces reliance on pain medications
- Distracts your mind from focusing on pain by instead focusing on other physical activities
- Invigorates the body by increasing blood flow and oxygen to all body parts
- Improves mood and is proven to reduce anxiety and depression
- Motivates you to conquer your pain rather than allowing it to conquer you
- Being fit allows you to recover more quickly
What Kind of Exercise Should You Do?
When you have back pain, a physical therapist or spine specialist should be your first port of call to find out which exercises will best suit you, your level of fitness, and the type of pain you are experiencing. The entire body will be incorporated into the exercise regimen, even if the target is a part of the back.
Some back pain exercises that may be helpful include:
- Gentle walking
- Gentle yoga
- Pilates
- Stretching
- Exercises that develop core strength
- Swimming
Wear comfortable clothing and don’t force your body beyond its capabilities. Take it slowly and remember to breathe deeply through the stretches and exercises because holding your breath will not alleviate pain! Remember, you need to get professional advice prior to beginning any exercise program for back pain, and you will be given a customized routine for your own personal needs.
For Relief From Ongoing Back Pain – Visit a Top Spine Surgeon in New York
Prevention is always better than cure. If you can avoid injuring your back in the first place, all the better – and being physically fit is a great first step towards maintaining the health of your back and spine. If you do strain or otherwise injure your back, medical treatments, proper exercises, and rest will usually see the pain resolve within a few weeks.
If your back pain lasts longer than six weeks, it’s time to see a top spine surgeon in New York to determine whether you need surgery to effectively alleviate your back pain. Dr. Ezriel E. Kornel is a leader in spine surgery and he sees patients in New York City, Dutchess County, and Westchester County.
Please call our office at (914) 768-4429 to schedule an appointment to see Dr. Ezriel E. Kornel, or visit our website at brainandspinesurgeon.com to learn more about how you can alleviate your back pain and whether having back pain surgery in New York is an option for you.
