The cause of back pain and the potential treatments for back injury are diverse. Back pain can be the result of a range of conditions that affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, nerves, other soft tissues or joints. Most back pain does not have one simple cause, but may be due to a range of factors, such as poor posture, repetitive activity or trauma. A staple piece of equipment for rehabilitating a back injury is the physio ball.
No matter what the particular cause of back injury, it is well documented that the resulting low back pain inhibits the deep abdominal muscles whose job it is to support the spine. A vicious downward spiral is created where injury causes back pain, which causes the muscles that support the spine to weaken which in turn leaves that back more vulnerable to further injury. It is possible to break free from this cycle and specific lower abdominal stabilization training is a key component to winning the battle. This is where the physio ball comes in, it can also be referred to as an exercise ball, gym ball, stability ball or therapy ball. It is effective in rehabilitation of the back because it helps strengthen and develop the core body muscles that help to stabilize the spine.
It has been shown that the muscle activity required to perform a simple curl-up exercise is almost doubled when using a physio ball compared to the same exercise on a stable surface. Using equipment like the physio ball to perform abdominal exercises changes both the level of muscle activity and the way the muscles work together to stabilize the spine and whole body, this effect is exactly that which is required to counteract the negative effects that back pain has on the muscles.
The physio ball does not simply provide a method to restore the spinal stability that is lost in an episode of back pain. The range of exercises that can be performed when using it allows for expansive program progression, making it suitable for use in very early remedial exercises to end stage functional rehabilitation. It is also possible to perform a range of mobility exercises to promote increased range of motion about the spine as well as improve stability.
The use of a physio ball is an excellent conservative back exercise treatment option for back pain sufferers. It is a readily available, inexpensive and versatile piece of equipment that can be used under the supervision of a health professional and/or as part of an independent management plan for back pain. Not only will its use help to resolve the presenting complaint, it will also help prevent further episodes of low back pain when used as part of a rehabilitation program.
Reference: Exercises on a "swiss ball" for chronic low back pain. Stankovic, A, Lazovic, M and Kocic, M. 2008, Proceedings of the 7th Mediterranean congress of physical an rehabilitation medicine, pp. 58-60.
Dr. David P. Chen
Chiropractor in Laurel, MD 20708
No comments:
Post a Comment