Is Exercise for Lower Back Pain a Good Idea?
If you have or are experiencing acute or chronic back
this may well be a question you have asked. Anyone who has experienced
back pain knows how debilitating it can be, to the point of interfering
with the daily tasks that life requires. When you have back pain there
is a whole list of things you should not do, including most exercises.
This does not mean that there aren't specific exercises for back pain
but any physical activity should be cleared with your doctor first.
If the pain is severe enough your doctor may order bed rest for at least
two days. Most back experts feel that staying in bed any longer than two
days may actually delay recovery from lower back pain. It is important
to rest your back to let it heal but lack of activity may cause more
harm then good. It is important to move around from time to time to keep
the blood flowing and to allow vital nutrients to get to the area where
they are needed most, namely the injured back.
If nothing else at least get out of bed once or twice a day. Just stand
up and allow the muscles to work. If you feel you can do more here's an
exercise which can help speed up your recovery. While lying on your
stomach gently raise up your trunk until you are resting on your elbows.
As slow as you can ease yourself up keeping your hips on the floor as
your chest and stomach lift up away from the floor. Do not overextend
yourself to the point where it hurts while doing this. Slow and gentle
is the name of the game when doing this exercise for back pain. When
finished with this exercise gently roll onto your back and place a
rolled up towel under the small of your back and relax.
Do this exercise for three of four days and see if your back pain begins
to subside. If it offers little relief it may indicate that the middle
of the lower back is not where the pain is centered. Try to localize
where the pain is exactly, is it on one side or the other and modify the
exercise. To do this, when you lay down shift your hips to the side
opposite where the pain is located and do the exercise detailed above.
As always when suffering from back pain it pays to not over do any
physical activity. No lifting, keep good posture when sitting, avoid
driving or riding in a car, but do keep moving as much as your back pain
allows. | 
