Exercise

Today I ran 6 miles on the treadmill and as I looked around the gym at all the people working out, I saw men and women of different sizes and ages. It made me think about exercise and weight loss, and exercise and back pain, and how they relate to one another. If you are not exercising regularly, your back muscles are deconditioned and much more susceptible to injury (a.k.a. "back pain"). If you are overweight, your body has to work harder to keep yourself upright, and you also can end up with back pain.

Muscles get stronger when they do work. When they sit at a desk all day (or on the couch), they get weaker. When you exercise, you are less likely to get back pain. If you do have back pain and you don't exercise regularly, you should consider beginning an exercise program. It will help tremendously. I know from personal experience the more I exercise, the LESS my back hurts. Most people think that would be the opposite, but in fact, when my muscles are stronger and more flexible from working out, my back is in good shape.

If you are having questions about working out, and what may be right (or wrong) for you, ask us, we may be able to help!