No matter what is wrong with your back, be in bulging discs, arthritis, stenosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, or just a muscle strain, one thing seems to work best of all. Is it surgery? Is it a back brace? Inserts for your shoes? Physical Therapy? Steroid injections? An implanted nerve stimulator? How about prescription pain killers? If any of these was your first guess, there is a good reason why. Each of these treatments is promoted by somebody, be it a surgeon or a drug company, who could make money off of you. But it turns out that the best thing you can do for your aching back is free. You can do it right now, no matter where you are. You don’t need any special equipment or even training.
So what is this amazing treatment? Exercise. Researchers in Australia looked at studies of back pain from around the world. Their conclusion? Get moving if you want to feel better. The one thing you can do to make your back pain worse, according to these researchers is to rest. If you let your already sore back get weaker it is going to get worse. As much as you might be tempted to sit in your recliner while your back is hurting, you need to do the opposite. Get up and do something. Do anything.
The research seems to show that any type of exercise is going to help. The best news is that getting strong and staying strong is likely to prevent future back problems. So when you are miserable with an aching back or neck, resolve to avoid feeling that way again. Learn some simple ways to strengthen and stretch what is currently hurting. If you do so, chances are you won’t injure yourself again. Of course, no amount of exercise is going to treat all spine problems. If your back or neck issues are so severe that you cannot work any longer, please contact me so we can discuss your options for getting Social Security disability. In the meantime, get out there and walk around the block a couple of times and do some simple stretching when you get home. That may be all it takes to keep you healthy and fit and strong.
