Exercising with back problems

Back pain is one of the most common complaints that the Vintage Fitness personal training hear from clients during our first visits.  There is a huge range of underlying problems including:

• Degenerative joint disease such as arthritis which causes pain and lack of function
• Disc issues (eg slipped disc, bulging disc).  Discs act as shock absorbers and help with spacing and to hold the bones on top of each other. Sitting can often be painful
•  Scoliosis is more common in females and will cause uneven hips and shoulders to the curvature in the spine.
• Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal which puts pressure on the spinal core causing pain, numbness and weakness.

Each of these back problems is unique but there are a few guiding principles when exercising with back problems

• Don’t sit for long periods of time- movement is good for the back
• Train muscles that support the spine such as the rhomboids in the mid back
• Train the muscles that surround the spine (bird/dog exercise below does this)
• Control your weight
• Don’t do bent over toe touches, crunches or sit ups (lots of other ways to safely strengthen your abdominals)

A few great back exercises

Back Row

Benefits of the exercise

Strengthens the upper and mid back

Tips

• Keep a tall spine
• Keep the shoulders relaxed 

How many should I do?

• 10 times

Video:

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Bird/Dog

Benefits of this exercise

This exercise is great for balance and brain health.

Tips

• Line your hands up underneath your shoulders and your knees up underneath your hips.
• Keep your hips square to the mat as you extend your left arm and right leg and then switch sides.

How many should I do?

•  10 times per side.

Video:

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This is a 12 week blog series discussing common medical conditions and exercise prescriptions for the older adult.

• Week 1: Dementia
• Week 2: Cardiovascular conditions
• Week 3: Fibromyalgia
• Week 4: Sciatica
• Week 5: Falls
• Week 6: Back injuries and conditions (This post)
• Week 7: Elbow injuries
• Week 8: Joint replacements
• Week 9: Shoulder injuries
• Week 10: Diabetes
• Week 11: Osteoporosis
• Week 12: Arthritis

If you would like a free consultation about how Vintage Fitness in home personal trainers could help you or your family member get stronger and more energized drop me a note erin@vintagefitness.ca

Good Luck!

Erin

Vintage Fitness

Click to Call    416-951-7978

Vintage Fitness is an in home personal training company in Toronto, Canada.  We specialize in energizing the lives of people over 50 with exercise.