Aging Gracefully and with Great Health

Three Exercises You Can Use To Alleviate Back Pain

25 February 2016 by For Content

If you've suffered from back pain at some point in your life, you join the roughly 80 percent of Americans who suffers from this type of discomfort. It's best to seek help from a health practitioner who specializes in back pain; often, a chiropractor will be able to assess your mobility and discomfort and perform a number of spine adjustments to put your body in better balance and reduce your pain – all without the use of medication. Although back pain can be debilitating, it's often beneficial to take an active role in healing yourself through exercise. While you should always consult your health practitioner before adopting a new exercise regimen, these three activities are generally safe for those with back pain.

Gentle Walking

Walking can be an effective exercise for people with back pain, provided the workout intensity is kept to a moderate level. This form of exercise can help to increase the strength of the muscles in your back and core, which is beneficial. When these muscles are weak, you have a tendency to slouch and worsen your back pain. When they're strong, however, you'll be able to maintain an upright posture with more ease. Walking also increases your heart rate, which results in more oxygenated blood reaching the various parts of your body, including your back. Blood possesses a number of healing properties that can help your back feel better.

Yoga

The advanced postures of yoga might seem daunting if you have a sore back, but the reality is that a beginner-level class can significantly help your pain. In addition to strengthening your muscles, yoga also helps to improve your muscles' flexibility. This is important because a misaligned spine can often cause tight, cramped muscles. By reducing the tightness of these muscles, they won't be pulling on your spine with the same degree of pressure. Yoga is also an ideal stress-relieving activity, which is ideal if you're anxious about your back pain.

Water Aerobics

If you have convenient access to a pool, trying some water aerobics can benefit your back. The various exercises you perform can strengthen your muscles and increase your heart rate, but the added perk of exercising in water is the buoyancy. Whereas land-based exercises can occasionally jar your body and worsen your pain, the water minimizes the impact of an aerobic workout. Whether you visit a local aquatic center and take a class or simply try some moves in your own pool, you can often use this workout to reduce your back pain.

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