5 Recommended Exercises if You’re Suffering From Back Pain

At some point in our lives, we all deal with back pain. Whether it’s occasional or chronic, mild, moderate, or severe ranges, but the fact is that back pain is normal.

How you treat the pain when it happens makes a huge difference in how quickly it goes away. For instance, many people assume back pain means they need to rest and relax. In reality, the more you lay in bed, the worse your discomfort can become.

When you’re not stretching the muscles and you’re laying in a prone position for hours, your muscles and joints get stiff. Instead of relaxing, you should try some of these 5 gentle exercises. If the discomfort doesn’t go away, head to a back pain doctor for relief.

1. Biking

Riding a bike uses a lot of muscles that aren’t active with other exercises. You’ll develop stronger muscles in the back and abdomen that help support your spine and boost your posture. These strengthening behaviors reduce the strain in your back that was causing your pain and help you to avoid the problem in the future.

2. Low-Impact Aerobics

At low intensity, aerobic exercises are safe for almost everyone. They boost your blood flow and circulation, improve your cardiac health, and get your endorphins flowing. It’s almost impossible to be in a bad mood after an aerobic workout. Even better for those who suffer from back pain is the improvement in your joints and muscles. Because you’re getting those gentle stretches frequently, you’ll notice increased flexibility and stronger bones and muscles.

3. Daily Hobbies

What do you love to do that gets you up and going? Your back pain might cause you to skip out on your sports games and wrestling matches, but there are still ways you can stay active. Take up gardening, hiking (preferably on mostly flat surfaces), or exploring the outdoors life. The more you do low-impact activities, the happier you’ll be, and the less pain you’ll feel.

4. Swimming

One of the best exercises all-around is swimming. You use almost every muscle in your body while you’re making laps around the pool or lake. Swimming promotes weight management and weight loss, which also reduces the strain on your back. If you can swim a few laps every day, you’ll notice an improvement in your back pain.

5. Yoga

Don’t be nervous if you’ve never done yoga before. There are many levels you can slowly work through before you become a yoga master. Start out with the softest stretches, then work your way up. Eventually, you’ll have enough muscle strength and flexibility to twist yourself into the proverbial yoga pretzel, and your back won’t even make a peep.

No matter which type of exercise you choose, don’t skip out on the warm-up and cool down. They might not seem like they’re doing much, but they are. These short stretches help get your muscles ready for the workout and back to normal after the activities.

Talk to your doctor before starting any regular workout routine. They’ll be able to suggest the best exercises for your health conditions.