People with a herniated disc experience lower back pain and sciatic pain which radiates down their leg. When the disc pushes against the nerve root, it can cause pain. Conservative treatment for a herniated disc is usually enough to resolve the pain. Because bending and lifting intensify the pain, a treatment program to work on trunk extension can help.
Core strengthening for the trunk, including the abdominal muscles as well as the lower back and posterior hip muscles, are exercises that have been proven to help lower back pain. Positioning activities which include trunk extension and postural activities incorporated into a daily routine can help prevent or resolve radicular pain associated with a herniated disc. Flexibility and strengthening are also part of the treatment plan.
Most people are able to live a normal pain-free lifestyle after experiencing a herniated disc if the proper care and treatment is addressed within a reasonable time.
I’m Steve Taylor, Physical Therapist of Southern Physical and Occupational Therapy Services
Moving You To A Pain-Free Lifestyle
