Baby Boomer Health – Back Pain and Exercise

Welcome to this weeks edition of Baby Boomer Health – Back Pain and Exercise

Show Notes:

Do you have chronic back pain? What types of exercises do you do? What exercises are best?

A recent study of 240 adults with low back pain of at least 3 months were studied. Three types of exercise groups were created.
1. General Exercise – strengthening, stretching and cardiovascular exercises
2. Motor Control Exercise – exercises aimed at improving the function of specific trunk muscles involved in spine movement – diaphragm, transverses abdominis and pelvic floor muscles
3. Spinal Manipulative Therapy – joint mobilization or manipulation techniques applied to the spine or pelvis

After 8 weeks the motor control group and the spinal manipulative therapy group improved slightly more than the general exercise group. At 6 and 12 months however all groups were equal.

So no matter what exercise you choose to use, continue your exercise plan for long term help.