It is difficult to enjoy normal routine activities with a painful herniated disc. A herniated disc is a limiting and painful condition which deprives you from doing your routine work. Trauma, injury or an accident could be one of the causes of a herniated disc. To cure a chronic case of herniated disc a surgery may be required. To eliminate the need for surgery and to relieve the problem there are also a few exercises for herniated disc where huge expenses on a surgery can be avoided.
To supply oxygen to the affected area and to alleviate the pain from that area there are a few exercises for herniated disc that one needs to do. By doing the right type of exercises sufficient nutrients are passed to the area through the blood and also sufficient amount of oxygen is supplied to the affected part so that there is a faster recovery. The main purpose of exercises for herniated disc is to maintain proper circulation of the blood for a better recovery.
Curl-ups or crunches:
This is one of the simplest exercises for herniated disc. First you have to lie flat on the back, with the knees bent. Cross your arms over the chest while pressing the lower back into the floor. Raise your head slowly upwards and curl the ribcage towards the spine. This position should be held for at least four seconds before you return back again to the starting position. One should try to curl the shoulder towards the hips instead of trying to raise the shoulders to a higher position. During the entire day this exercise needs to be repeated at least eight to ten times. To build in more comfort and strength you can keep adding to it.
Abdominal Isometrics:
This is also one of the important exercises for herniated disc which can be done while lying down, standing, or sitting. This is a simple exercise where all you have to do is pull the muscles of the stomach inwards and breathe in as if you are pulling the navel towards the spine. Hold this position as long as you feel comfortable. Don’t take help of your legs and the abdominals while doing this exercise and try to press the lower back into the floor surface if you are doing this exercise lying on the floor. This exercise needs to be practiced throughout the day at least 10 to 12 times.
Extension of lower back and the lower back and hip stretch exercise:
These are two of the other exercises for herniated disc. For extension of the lower back, first lie on the stomach and hold the upper part of the body on the elbows, while keeping the pelvis on the floor at the same time. As long as you are comfortable, hold this position and gradually push up onto your hands and stretch the upper part of your body. This exercise involves a little bit of pressure so do it carefully and hold the position as long as you can.
The lower back and hip stretch is one of the other exercises for herniated disc. Keep the knee bent with the arms at the sides and lie on your back. Slowly and gradually drop the knees to one side and hold this position for a few seconds and then again return back to the standing position. Repeat these steps again on the other side and repeat it at least ten times for each side. Ensure not to strain the back and if any kind of pain is experienced it should be stopped immediately.
The backbone is a complex structure and made up of op a number of spinal discs that act like a cushion and part each of the bones in the backbone. The backbone is protected for any kind of a shock and hence they act like shock absorbers. In case of any injury or trauma there could be a bulging disc which exerts pressure on the nerves of the spine thus causing intense pain in the back as well as legs. This pain can be alleviated with the right type of exercises for herniated disc. All these exercises are designed to offer relief and correct the condition.
Keeping yourself mobile and physically active is the best way of battling the onslaught. The medical fraternity the world over is now offering herniated disc allopath treatments alongside dedicated exercises for faster relief. There are a number of online as well as offline resources that help you to identify professional guidance to deploy the herniated disc exercises in your home. They come in the form of DVDs, CDs and even download options. One click and you are sorted. Keep pain at bay and invite vigor and vivaciousness back into your life and personal pursuits. All you need to do is take one small step towards awareness.