Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
People with back pain need to exercise as much as
everyone else, but running is usually a poor choice of activity.
The bones of your spine are located one on top of the other,
separated by pads called discs. Bones are much harder than
discs, so when spinal bones are compressed and move closer
together, they can flatten the discs like pancakes. Since the
discs are then shorter, they have to go somewhere else, so they
widen and press on the nerves near them, causing pain. This is
called a herniated disc. Anything that presses the bones closer
together squashes the disc further and usually makes it hurt
more. During running, the force of the foot striking the ground is
transmitted up the leg to the back, which can compress the discs
and cause pain.
The best sports for people with back pain are those that
do not hurt when you do them. Riding a bicycle, walking slowly
and swimming do not exert a jarring force on the discs to compress
them, so these exercises are recommended for people with back pain
as long they don’t hurt while they exercise. Doctors often
recommend special exercises to flatten the lower back, strengthen
the belly muscles and stretch the lower back muscles. The key to
exercising when you have a compressed disc is to stop exercising
when you feel pain. You may need to try several different
activities to find the right one for you.
May 1, 2006