How To Relieve Lower Back Pain
If you’ve ever had pain in your lower pain, you know how much it hurts to move even your arms, legs or neck. A good way to stop constant low-back pain, aside from treatment, can be by exercising. It’s a bit of an oxymoron, sure, but exercise can help. Until you’re ready to go for a run or lift weights, consider swimming, a low-impact aerobic workout that relieves pressure on the joints and spine while exercising the muscles in the back.
What Causes Low-Back Pain?
Back pain can range from a muscle aching to a shooting, burning or stabbing sensation. In addition, the pain may radiate down your leg or worsen with bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking.
The most common cause of low back pain is muscle or ligament strain. If you do not have a strong core, this can also cause low back pain from the strain of carrying extra weight.
Bulging or ruptured disks in your spine could also be the culprit. Disks are the cushions between the bones in your spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve, causing the pain.
In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis. In rare cases, it could be osteoporosis, when your spine’s vertebrae develop fractures from porous or brittle bones.
If your back pain is accompanied by pain radiating past your knees, unexplained weight loss, bladder/bowel problems or is a result of an injury, call your physician.
How Does Swimming Help Pain In Your Lower Back?
When you’re in the water, you’re in a non-weight bearing environment. This reduces stress on your joints and allows a greater range of motion. The hydrostatic pressure in a pool also increases blood flow to the muscles in your back.
Depending on the severity of the pain in your lower back, and of course with your doctor’s OK, start slowly with a simple walk through water that completely covers your core. The friction from the water gives a light resistance that will strengthen the muscles in your back, as well as your core. As you heal, work your way up into swimming laps or taking a water aerobics class.
Are you experiencing lower back pain? Consider comprehensive chiropractic care with Dr. Kimberly Muhlenkamp-Wermert at Live Well Chiropractic Center. We help treat and prevent pain and injury with non-invasive healthcare services and a focus on nutrition, exercise and spinal health.
Schedule your appointment with Dr. Kim today by calling 513-285-7482 or emailing info@livewellcc.com. Her extensive understanding of body mechanics will get you feeling better! Be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for our latest updates and tips!
