"Oh, My Aching Back!" Back Exercises May NOT Be The Best for Back Pain

[Radio_Lady]

I saw this article reproduced in Good Housekeeping magazine April 2006. It suggests that swimming and walking are the best for back pain, NOT the exercises you get from a physical therapist!

Duh!

Anyway, I swam for an hour and walked for an hour this morning, so I guess that counts!

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EXERCISE YOUR BACK PAIN AWAY

When your back hurts, getting off the couch may be the last thing you want to do - but you should probably make it the first.

Researchers at UCLA studied 610 men and women with a history of chronic lower-back pain. After 1 1/2 years, they found that patients who exercised regularly were 31 percent less likely to experience an increase in pain and disability than their sedentary counterparts. Surprisingly, those who regularly did back exercises such as the stretches and strength-training routines often recommended by physical therapists were more than twice as likely as those who didn't do those moves to complain of an increase in pain.

Hal Morgenstern, Ph.D., suspects that many people do those back exercises incorrectly.

—Your best bet: a daily half-hour of aerobic activity, such as brisk walking or swimming, most days of the week.

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Link to abstract of original findings is here:

http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/95/10/1817?ck=nck

Conclusions: (Results) suggest that individuals with low back pain should refrain from specific back exercises and instead focus on nonspecific physical activities to reduce pain and improve psychological health.