Exercise Ball and Back Pain
The exercise ball has been used in the treatment of back
pain for years
in physical therapy clinics.
It is well known
that
approximately
80 percent of people living in western society will
experience
lower back pain at some point of their life. Most cases resolve on
their own within two to four weeks without intervention; however, 80
percent of people will go on to have reoccurrences. Current research
has shown that in most cases of low back pain, the muscles that
stabilize the spine are reflexively inhibited after injury and do not
"kick in" to stabilize the spine automatically when called upon. These
muscles do not necessarily recover even if patients are pain free and
return to their normal activities.
Physical therapy
involves a wide
range of techniques including modalities to help back pain such as
heat,
electrotherapy, and traction/decompression. Mobilization of hypomobile
segments, education about posture and body mechanics and exercise.
Stabilization and strengthening of the lumbar spine through a lumbar
stabilization program is also an important part of a rehabilitation
program for the patient with low back pain.
A lumbar
stabilization
program is a
routine of back exercises designed to teach strengthening and
flexibility in a pain free range. This helps achieve efficient movement
patterns. It provides the patient with movement awareness, knowledge of
safe postures, and functional strength and coordination that promotes
management of lower back pain.
Spinal exercises
should not
provoke pain cause any acute increase of pain and
should not
cause any radiation of pain into the extremities.
Prior to
starting a
lumbar
stabilization program or performing any exercise ball exercises you
should first be assessed by your family
physician and physical therapist. Since every patient with back pain is
an individual
and presents with different conditions, a physical therapist is needed
to design and monitor the rehabilitation program of someone with
low
back pain.
Precautions.