 Press Up
BackBend
SideGlide
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Lower back pain
The Press Up
This exercise is designed to reduce strain on low back muscles, discs, and joint
alignments. The therapeutic movement may be accompanied by increased pain with
improved function. One of the goals with press ups is to gain pain-free extension,
allowing the back muscles and joints to become biomechanically aligned.
The Back Bend
This exercise is a modification of the press up discussed earlier. Back bends are
also designed to reduce the load on the joints, muscles, and discs of the low back.
When done daily and even hourly, this exercise will increase your recovery time.
The Side Glide
This exercise follows the same principles as the press up and the back bend.
Side glides are a more specific exercise for individuals whose pain increases with
lateral flexion (bending sideways) instead of extension (bending backwards).
The idea with the side glide is to bend into the pain, place your unaffected side
against the wall and press into your injured side with your hand. No pain no gain!
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Rule 1
Rule 2
Rule 3
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Rules to Lower Back Pain
1) NO BENDING FORWARD. The natural curvature of the low back disappears when the spine
is bent. The vertebrae straighten creating pressure on the intervertebral
discs, thus pushing the soft center of the disc outward thereby pressing onto
the nerve.
2) LIMIT HOW MUCH YOU SIT. Again, the natural curvature of the back is diminished
when the legs are bent and sitting involves bent legs. If you absolutely have
to sit, you must keep the curve of your spine by sitting up straight, chest out,
using a lumbar support pillow. Sitting more than 20 minutes with lower back pain
will cause more inflammation and more pain.
3) NO SLEEPING IN THE FETAL POSITION. What happens to your legs when you are
sleeping in the fetal position? That's right, you end up bending at the middle
and straightening that lumbar curvature again. It is imperative that you teach
yourself to fall asleep correctly. Positions that will not hurt your back and
allow healing to occur include: on your back with no pillow under your knees,
on your side with a pillow between your knees and legs straight,
on your stomach.
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Lying Elbows
Lifting
Sitting
Lying
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Lower Back Pain Prevention Tips
LYING CORRECTLY. This position maintains the low back's natural curve and prevents
bulging discs from pressing onto nerves. It is a "safe zone" position for hot backs
and also a good prevention method for those that spend many hours sitting.
LIFTING CORRECTLY. The proper lifting technique is critical to a healthy back.
Bending and twisting are the two most commonly used techniques to lift, unfortunately
they also put undue loading stress onto the tissues and discs of the back.
Pressure from incorrect technique will produce micro-tears in the cartilaginous
material of the disc and also in the muscle fibers of the back, leading to eventual
bulges and scar tissue. The tried and true "Lift with your legs" technique is
correct and produces the least amount of load on the back. Keep your back straight,
overstep your position to the object to be lifted, lean back to pick object up,
stand up using your legs.
SITTING CORRECTLY. Sitting up straight keeps pressure on your low back and neck areas
at a minimum. Maintain the curvature of your low back by keeping your chest up and use
a lumbar support pillow. Do not allow your back to straighten out, remember, this
increases the pressure in your back and making you more prone to injury.
LYING POORLY. Do not lay on your side curled up in the fetal position. This action
diminishes the lumbar curve that you work so hard to maintain. The safest position
to lay down in is flat on the back with no pillow under the knees. Side laying is
okay as long as a pillow is placed between the knees and the legs are kept straight.
This means no bending at the waist with straight legs either! Either position is
allowed and will keep your back healthy for years to come.
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