If you have a back injury or chronic pain in your back, you might find it hard to exercise on a regular basis. You back is used for many different kinds of aerobic activity, and if it is strained you can injure yourself further. Before you start any workout regime you should contact your doctor, especially if you see a doctor or a chiropractor on a regular basis.
Your chiropractor can give you a list of different back exercises that will strengthen your back without injuring it. A chiropractor can take x-rays and help diagnose your back injury to know what kinds of physical activity will be bad for your back and what kinds will actually help you. If you haven’t visited a chiropractor about your back pain, you should consider it.
If you decide to make your own exercise program, you need to be careful that you are not straining your back. If you’re on painkillers or other medication, you could be masking any symptoms that would normally alert you that you shouldn’t put that kind of strain on your back muscles. This is definitely a situation where you should contact a physician before beginning the workout.
Remember the basic rules for working out. Stretch before and after you workout to improve the range of motion of your back and to strengthen it. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Remember to give your body enough time to rest and recover between workouts. This will make sure that you don’t strain and injure your back or any other part of your body.
Swim! Water aerobics and similar classes have become very popular, because they allow those with physical conditions to workout, do cardio, and build up strength. Older people and people with injuries who couldn’t exercise before can now exercise in the water. If you’re someone with chronic back pain, consider signing up for a water pilates class that will help to keep you in shape, and may even help your back pain.
Getting a medical massage or using physical therapy can add to any workout. If you get regular massages, they will lessen the chance of injuring yourself during workouts. Physical therapy can help by giving you the tools and trainers to keep you active and exercising, but these therapists also have the know how to keep you from getting hurt. Sometimes medical insurance will pay for medical massages and other types of non surgical physical therapy if you have an injury.
If you have a back injury, you can workout; you just have to be more careful than those who are in perfect health. If you have any questions or concerns about the workout you’re planning to do, the best and safest thing to do is contact a physician or chiropractor. Sometimes you can workout and feel fine but wake up the next morning in extreme pain. A doctor will be able to keep you safe and answer any questions.