Did you know that nearly 2/3 of adults experience some lower back pain? I know I’m in that group (*cue moans and groans and shameless requests for sympathy*). Well the latest study 411 that I read about in Shape could help.(Yeah!) According to a new survey, of this group of adults with pain, 73% of them turn to the medicine cabinet to deal with it. While doctors agree that anti-inflammatory aids like ibuprofen can help, they shouldn’t be your only line of defense.
“Low-intensity activity helps preserve muscle tone and range of motion,” says Kiran V. Patel, M.D., of the Spine and Pain Institute of New York, who recommends walking, swimming and Pilates to strengthen your core. These activities will help take pressure off your vertrebal bones and discs as well as nerves that generate pain as you create a “tire of muscle” around your spine.
I couldn’t agree more with this. I’ve had a lot of lower back pain in particular (even more after having my baby) and for years I was a Pilates devotee. My core had never been stronger and my back had never felt better. After reading this study, I’m even more motivated to get back into Pilates as it’s one of my favorite forms of exercise. And don’t be fooled by the words,”low-intensity” as it can be very hard!
Patel also recommends stretching to help your back pain. “It can promote flexibility, ease tension and improve circulation. He tells Shape that you can use a desk chair to perform three stretches. The knee hug, the spinal twist and the chair boat.
Do you have back pain? What do you do to make your back feel better?
