Call Us at

 

(703) 723-4040 (Ashburn)

Or

(703) 561-0600 (Herndon)

January 28, 2014

“Aw, Doc! Do I have to? I don’t have time to exercise!”

Amazing how we’ll hear this question from Ashburn and Herndon back pain patients when we recommend exercise to cope with and manage low back pain and neck pain! Exercise is good for the whole body, and targeted exercise is essential for back pain and neck pain patients. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is only looking out for your spinal health! And it won’t take long.

Along with your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic care, you'll want to exercise your lumbar spine extensor muscles!

This recent study really drives home the importance of doing lower back exercises. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn found that it highlights how the majority of evidence suggests that lower back pain is associated with decreased strength and endurance, atrophy (muscle loss), and excessive fatigability of the lumbar extensors. This set of researchers went on to emphasize that many studies even suggest that lumbar extensor deconditioning may be a common risk factor that can actually predict acute low back injury and low back pain. (1) So exercising the extensor muscles of the lower back is critical!

Fortunately, it’s not hard. The lower back extensor muscles line the sides of the spinal column. Some researchers even call the fat change in these muscles when they deteriorate “back mice” as you can feel them along the lower spine. They’re like little round, fatty nodules. (2,3) These are mice you really don’t want around! So exercise them away.

So if Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn could recommend one lumbar spine extensor muscle exercise that won’t take you long to do, it would be the low back strengthening exercise. Don’t do it without discussing it with your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractor first!

Whether you want to exercise or not, bring your lower back pain to Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn. We’ll work together for your back pain relief. You may even come around to saying “Doc, please let me do some exercise. I don’t want back mice!” Contact Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn today.