Sports with a hernia of the spine
Many people are wondering what kind of sports can be done with a hernia of the spine? After all, often, according to the ignorant, it is sport that causes the development of the disease. However, this opinion is not entirely correct.
So is it possible to do any sports with a hernia of the spine? What types of loads should be preferred? How should you organize your classes so as not to aggravate the disease?
Purpose of physical activity
The musculoskeletal system is a complex apparatus, which consists not only of the spinal column. Muscles are considered an important element of it. It is thanks to the muscular corset that it is often possible to maintain health if there is a possibility that an intervertebral hernia will develop.
If the back muscles are not exercised on a regular basis, they stop supporting the spinal column. This naturally leads to the fact that the load on the intervertebral discs increases. As a result, an intervertebral defect is formed, which does not contribute to the good health of the patient.
As the damage to the intervertebral discs progresses, the symptoms of the pathology worsen. This is due to the fact that the nucleus pulposus extends beyond the boundaries of the fibrous ring, starting to compress the nerve trunks.
Initially, it is better to prevent the progression of pathology. This can be achieved by exercising in the gym or, for example, in the fresh air. Yet it is sport that is one of the main elements of the treatment of hernial protrusions.
You can go in for sports thanks to its following effects:
- for pain in the lumbar or any other part of the spine, the sport produces a mild training effect that relieves acute discomfort;
- with a vertebral hernia, not only the defect is eliminated, but also the general condition of the body improves;
- engaging in any slow sport allows you to relieve spasm from the muscles of the back;
- engaging in any kind of physical activity can improve mood, relieve nervous tension.
Which workouts to prioritize
Many patients are wondering what types of sports activities should be followed?
There are many recommended types, including, for example:
- swimming;
- yoga;
- wu-shu;
- qigong etc.
In principle, with an intervertebral hernia, any type of gymnastics is allowed, which is not associated with strong loads on the spine and the need to carry weights. Many, for example, are wondering if training on simulators is allowed? Yes, such activities are allowed, but only if they are supervised by a specialist. For example, it is allowed to exercise on an exercise bike, but simulators with the need to lift weights are not recommended.
Can you do boxing? Boxing is not a recommended sport, although it does not actually involve heavy lifting. The fact is that in the gym, when boxing, a person is forced to jump and receive blows that can adversely affect the condition of the spinal column.
Nordic walking or having sex is also not contraindicated. The main thing is to be careful and remember that excessive activity can adversely affect the spine and the general condition of the patient.
If a person goes in for sports, with a hernia of the spinal column, it is recommended to pay attention to any activities in the water, Pilates, fitness.
Swimming and other water activities
Patients with hernias are recommended to exercise in the water. It is believed that water provides a natural environment in which there is minimal stress on the spinal column, but you can perform a wide variety of exercises. Any patient with a hernia can do water aerobics, regardless of gender and age.
It is interesting that you can train in water not only for the treatment of the disease, but also for the prevention of the disease. Moreover, as a preventive measure, exercises in the water are as effective as they are as a method of treatment.
Being in water, which provides natural support for the entire body, allows the muscles to relax. Thanks to relaxation, not only does muscle spasm decrease, but blood circulation improves not only in the internal organs, but also in the spinal column.
Water activities not only strengthen the general condition of the body, but also contribute to the development of the respiratory system. This helps to saturate the body with oxygen. Thanks to the active supply of oxygen to the body, one can hope that metabolic processes will improve and the ability to regenerate will increase.
It is important to remember that the duration and intensity of classes is always determined on an individual basis. Depending on the severity of the pathology, it is also recommended to select the optimal set of exercises.
Pilates
With hernial pathology of the spinal column, you can do Pilates. Pilates is a simple system of physical exercises that allows you to cope with many diseases of the spine. Training according to this principle allows not only to strengthen the muscular corset, but also to support the spinal column. Pilates classes for spinal hernia are conditionally divided into three large groups depending on the type of exercises performed.
Allocate:
- various options for training on the floor (lying or sitting - it does not matter);
- exercises performed using various sports equipment;
- classes in the gym with a hernia of the spine on special simulators adapted specifically for this type of physical activity.
If you train regularly, a person will learn how to correctly distribute any load on different groups of the muscular system. Additionally, it will be possible to cope with the hypermobility of the spinal column, which is considered one of the causes of protrusion.
Pilates refers to the soft type of exercise. This means that classes relieve spasms and relieve pain without overloading the spinal column.
Fitness
Fitness classes today are very popular among various groups of the population. This sport is paid attention not only by people with back problems, but also by completely healthy individuals. Many experts even say: "Do fitness at least three times a week, and your spinal column will be healthy!".
There are many different types of exercise in fitness. This also includes jogging or steppers - all this is also a kind of fitness.
Like any other gymnastics, fitness has a beneficial effect on all processes occurring in the spinal column. The blood supply to tissues improves, the intensity of regeneration processes increases, the body copes with loads more easily, gradually adapting to them. The only thing that is important to remember is the ban on overly complex exercises.
Among people involved in fitness, there is a popular opinion that it is recommended to divide the entire program into three stages for a hernia of the spine. This opinion is absolutely correct. First, the patient must learn to stabilize his spinal column. Then exercises are added that focus on various exercises on the simulators. The final stage is the implementation of complex exercises.
Categorically contraindicated loads
In addition to the various sports that are allowed for patients with hernias, there is an extensive list of loads that are categorically contraindicated. First of all, it is recommended to exclude all exercises where the use of excessively active physical force is expected. In this case, the force vectors are usually directed towards the pelvis, which significantly increases the existing load, adversely affecting the general condition of the patient.
It is also recommended to exclude classes in which active twisting of the spinal column is expected. Performing such exercises with a hernia can lead to pinching of a pathological defect.
Among the strictly contraindicated loads are:
- any form of weightlifting, and in particular the bench press;
- jumps of any type, as an element of athletics;
- too active sports, associated not only with the need to stay upright for a long time, but also with a high risk of injury;
- marathon walking;
- body-building.
If a person really wants to play sports, but for some reason cannot do it, and the hernia of the spinal column is becoming more and more active, the doctor may recommend at least daily walks. Thanks to slow walks in the fresh air, it is also possible to achieve tissue repair processes and affect the general condition of the body.
A hernia of the spinal column is an unpleasant disease, which is sometimes very difficult to deal with. It is necessary to play sports in order not only to prevent, but also to treat the disease.
