Exercise For Back Pain? – Yes It Works!

Taking exercise could be the key to bouncing back from [tag]severe lower back pain[/tag], researchers have found. Their study showed patients who followed an eight-class program of exercise experienced significant benefits compared to those who underwent standard treatment. Many people who [tag]suffer back pain[/tag] fear activity will lead to greater damage. This is NOT the case and has been confirmed by numerous studies. But the researchers say the exercise program's success rates prove to be so great they should be more widely available.

You can minimize [tag]problems with back pain[/tag] with exercises that make the muscles in your back, stomach, hips and thighs strong and flexible. But remember, before beginning any exercise program, you should discuss the program with your doctor and follow the doctor's advice. It is important to exercise regularly, every other day. Some people keep in good physical condition by being active in recreational activities like running, walking, bike riding, and swimming. In addition to these conditioning activities, there are specific exercises that are directed toward strengthening and stretching your back, stomach, hip and thigh muscles.

Such programs have been shown to be beneficial to hospital inpatients before, but the researchers, based at Hull University's Institute of Rehabilitation, wanted to see if it was effective in a community setting. They looked at 187 18- to 60-year-olds who had suffered lower back problems for between four weeks and six months. A year after the therapy, patients who had attended the exercise classes suffered less pain and were better able to control the condition than those who had not.

An educational "tip for the day", such as advising people not to worry if they feel some pain when they try a new activity, as this is not unusual – the trick is to start easy and build up slowly. Health professionals may sometimes be overcautious in telling people to take it easy, fearing they may over do their exercises thereby doing more damage. We have to help people distinguish between hurt and harm, so you can do activity that may hurt but without damaging yourself. Listen to your body and don't over do it but at the same time don't neglect the exercise and reduce the pain.