According to recent data, as many as 16 million Americans are dealing with chronic back pain. For many of them, the pain is bad enough to disrupt their jobs, social lives, and sleep routine. In this case, doctors often recommend exercise to ease the pain and strengthen the muscles.
That doesn’t mean that you’re free to do any physical activity you feel like. To get the most out of your routine without causing more damage to your back, you need to know how to find out which exercises are best for you.
Where To Start
It goes without saying that people with chronic back pain should seek the advice of a doctor before taking on any new physical activity.
This consultation is important because the type of exercise you’re allowed to do with chronic back pain will differ depending on how you developed the pain in the first place.
People who are in pain because of repetitive motions or long periods of immobility will receive different instructions from those who have been injured.
As a guide, however, it helps to identify which positions ease your pain. For example, people who experience less pain while standing or lying down may be able to do a hip flexor stretch or a bridge.
If you feel less pain when seated, knee-to-chest exercises work well. Finally, those who are in pain in any position may benefit from full-body exercises such as walking and wall sits.
Which Exercises You Should Consider?
While this list is not exhaustive, these are a few of the exercises that the experts recommend for people with chronic back pain.