Back exercise programming
Designing a back exercise programme will help you in strengthening and hopefully creating more mobilty in your back.
Back pain Programmes.
When designing lower back pain exercise programming, it is vital to ensure that a proper assessment has been conducted. A full assessment by a spinal specialist will ensure that the correct muscles are being worked.
Undderstanding muscle weaknesses.
It is often the case that muscles that appear to be weak are actually being inhibited by an antagonist muscle (the muscle on the opposite side of the joint).
Even the best lower back pain exercise programming cannot get an inhibited muscle to respond appropriately if it has not been identified as such. When you try to work around an inhibited muscle you frequently develop a substitution pattern that only serves to reinforce a painful movement pattern.
What to do.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends a two-pronged approach to developing this area. Firstly, that all patients should undertake a regular program of cardiovascular exercise for example walking, swimming, or biking. In addition, they should do exercises that will help strengthen and condition the muscles that support the spinal column.
These exercises will work the muscles of your back, stomach, hips and thighs in order to make them strong and flexible. This is critical, because having strong midline support decreases the stresses placed upon the lumbar spine and pelvis.
In summary.
The person to show you these specific exercises is a licensed physical therapist, who will be able to design a program to fit your individual needs.
