Sunday, September 8, 2013

Low Back Pain Physical Therapy - Solutions For Aches and Pains


Physical therapy is a very useful tool for many different situations. With so many millions of people experiencing low back pain every single year, it's often nice to know that there are more effective solutions than medical procedures, harsh medications, and just waiting it out. While many people assume that injury to their back requires rest and keeping still, this is actually detrimental in many cases. Low back pain physical therapy is a much better alternative and can help speed the healing process along if done properly. Of course, you should be able to rest the area to give it time to heal, but you can't lie around and do nothing for any extended period of time or the muscles will get stiff and create more problems for you. Consider low back pain physical therapy if you want an effective solution that doesn't involve serious treatments or procedures.

Physical therapy routines can be prescribed by a doctor, physical therapist, or even a chiropractor. While many people will discount the credibility of chiropractors as a source of medical advice, they are trained in the physiology of the body and know what they are talking about. They can offer treatment plans for your low back pain that include physical therapy along with other procedures such as electrical therapy, heat/ice therapy, and massage. Make sure that you discuss all of your symptoms with whatever doctor you visit to ensure that you get the best treatment program for your needs without putting yourself in more danger than it's worth. The great thing about getting professional therapy for back pain is that you can often experience better results than if you tried to do things yourself.

There are many different types of low back pain physical therapy that people can take on, depending on their exact injuries and what they're capable of doing. For example, if an older person with limited mobility has lower back pain, they can still find many effective exercises that will help to alleviate or even completely eliminate their back pain if they work with a physical therapist or their family doctor. All that you need to do is to take the time to make sure that you get the right medical treatment and that you fully disclose everything to the doctor or therapist so that you don't put yourself in more danger than it is worth when it comes to working out back problems with physical therapy.

Low back pain physical therapy isn't for everyone. However, it can be an effective solution for many people who are looking for something simple and less invasive or serious than medical procedures and prescription medication. Usually, if you are prescribed some type of therapy routine, it will involve stretching and strength training exercises combined, which will help to loosen the sore muscles in the lower back and make the other muscles around them stronger so that the back isn't under as much stress and is able to function better in the future. Of course, everyone is different and so is every treatment that is prescribed, so you will just have to talk to your doctor to see what they think is best for your needs.

If you are looking for a permanent solution to pain relief, you should talk to your doctor about low back pain physical therapy treatments. In many cases, the exercises that you do in physical therapy will help to make the body healthier and stronger so that you can avoid future injuries and pain in the back because your body is not strong enough or healthy enough to handle the stress that is put on your back. However, if you have a chronic condition, physical therapy might just offer a simple pain management program that allows you to make the pain less severe and more sporadic than it might have been without the therapy. No matter how you use it or what you get out of physical therapy for low back pain, it can be an effective solution for just about anyone that is suffering from low back pain. If you want a natural treatment that is effective, you need to learn about physical therapy for back pain.

Simple Tips To Attain Lower Back Pain Relief


As our age increases, our backs are becoming prone of experiencing lower back pain. The pain that is usually experience at the lower part of the back is the most frequent problems among adults and elderly; especially, those with jobs that engages exhausting activities. There are several disorders and diseases connected with pain at the lower back. That is the reason why it is always recommended to consult your physician during the onset of the pain. It is important to undergo examination to identify the main problem that triggers the pain. Otherwise, treatment plan will be arranged to avoid provocation of the symptoms.

One way to achieve relief is to engage oneself in exercise. Nevertheless, it is also said that exercise may trigger the onset of the pain. This will often happen when you do the activity strenuously that strain the lower part of the body. However, performing it regularly will help you obtain the result that you wanted to have. Exercise is a very excellent activity that you may want to maintain in order to be free from the condition. Its health benefits can sustain your body's vigor and resistance which can limit your possibilities of obtaining the condition.

Moreover, aside from engaging yourself in exercises, you might want to consider some tips in addition to your treatment. Your spines are very multifaceted and extraordinary parts of your body. There are ways to get rid of the pain and keep your back safe.

Safety Tips for your Lower back Pain Relief:

Caution on Spine Mobility- generally, people who are bearing from back pain attempt to move around and do some activities to guide the spine. Nonetheless, this is naturally not very good to them. It is usual to move your hips and upper spine but avoid doing it too much. Do some stretching on the hips and execute exercises like overhead squat or flexor stretches to help you widen the range of motion at your hips.

Observe your weight- being overweight causes you to have lower back pain. If you are an overweight then, your spine will take more burdens. Maintain a normal weight level to prevent any worst cases of low back pain.

Discontinue doing Sit-ups- performing crunches will enhance the force on the lower back. Although you are permitted to do sit-ups, you must only do it in moderation or at very least chances. You are able to use some planks to decrease the stress on your lower back. The procedure allows you to make your abdomen stronger and at the same time, relieving the force on your back.

Standing straight- You are required to stand up straight. If you often execute bent over poses, your muscles are apt to be weak and exhausted. When you are executing chores, be sure to maintain a correct posture to prevent the enhancement of shear force. Do not sit bent over a long whole day because it results shear force on your lower back.

Visit an Expert- it is right to visit your health provider to give you a clear view of the low back problem. If you have a hard time getting rid of the pain, then it is time for you to see a specialist. You can go to a massage therapist to get the accurate treatment for your pain. These people are skilled, trained and have experience in treating low back pain. If you wish to attain more specific guidelines to gain lower back pain relief, ask the experts.

Ten Ways to Avoid Surgery With Low Back Pain From Facet Joint Syndrome


Facet Syndrome is a condition in the low back that involves a problem with the facet joints, which are thumbnail sized joints on either side of the spine at every level. As with any synovial joint in one's body, arthritis can ensue, and the facet joints are no exception. Facet joint arthritis typically occurs at numerous levels, so if surgery is undertaken quite a few levels would need to be addressed. This is usually not a good indication for surgery unless one has significant degenerative scoliosis, instability or a separate issue needing to be addressed.

There are numerous ways to avoid surgery with facet arthritis and facet syndrome. Here are the top ten nonoperative methods.

1) Live With the Pain, Activity Modification - Not ideal but at the end of the day surgery for facet arthritis is a quality of life decision. If a patient can avoid painful activities and thereby keep the pain under control this may in fact be the best option. All legitimate nonsurgical options should be exhausted and this may be the last option standing.

2) Lower Your Body Mass Index - Being overweight equals extra weight on the arthritic facet joints. If the joint is painful from arthritis and the body weight is pushing down on the painful region then extra pressure may exacerbate the problem.

3) PT, Rehab, Lumbar Strengthening - Physical therapy can strengthen the muscles surrounding the spine, thereby reducing pressure on the arthritic and painful facet joints.

4) Spinal Decompression - This is a revolutionary nonoperative treatment that is FDA Cleared, very safe, and highly effective that may dramatically decrease the pain from facet syndrome. Treatment at an AZ pain center with spinal decompression therapy may allow surgery avoidance.

5) Chiropractic Treatment - Treatment from a phoenix chiropractor may be extremely effective at reducing low back pain from facet arthritis.

6) Medial Branch Blocks - The nerve endings that supply sensation to the facet joints are called medial branches. They can be numbed with numbing and steroid medication placed into the area of the medial branches around each of the affected facet joints. As with facet injections, this may provide relief for months at a time.

7) Facet Blocks - These are injections of steroid and numbing medication placed directly into the facet joints for pain relief. They may give substantial pain relief for days, weeks, or months.

8) Radiofrequency Ablation - Termed RFA, this procedure involves thermal ablation, or burning, of the medial branches, which are the tiny nerve endings supplying sensation to the facet joints. This procedure is the most modern available for facet syndrome pain and may help with pain relief for 3-18 months.

9) Pain Medication - NSAIDS and pain medication may provide excellent pain relief on a daily or as needed basis with flare ups.

10) Bracing and TENS Unit - These may provide significant benefit with pain reduction for facet arthritis. TENS machines are available at your AZ pain doctors office.

Lower Back Pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome


Is there a correlation between lower back pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Researchers have long argued that IBS may be caused by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. No indication or explanation is ever given as to why this malfunction might occur. To my knowledge there has been no adequate evidence to support this assumption. More over, I have not seen, heard of or read about any studies which were specifically implemented to test this hypothesis. Because of my own observations about my own IBS symptoms, I am inclined to believe and support this hypothesis.

Some of us who suffer Irritable Bowel Syndrome have tried for many years, without success, to eliminate the often debilitating affects of this mysterious disorder. Generally those who suffer have spent a great deal of time and money, having test after test only to be told that nothing conclusive was found.

Often after years of diagnostic procedures and expensive studies, patients are told there was nothing wrong with them. Their complaint of symptoms are brushed off as imaginary or more properly put in medical terms, psychosomatic. But with the ever increasing number of patients complaining of the same generalized list of symptoms, the medical community has been forced, in at least a small part, to acknowledge the malady as something more then imaginary symptoms of hypochondria.

So what can we surmise about IBS? It is a condition or disease in and of itself? Or is IBS is a condition caused by or a symptom of some other physical, neurological or possibly even psychological problem that is as yet undetected or undiagnosed as being relative to the IBS condition? I find this to be a more plausible conclusion and will provide some insight for my personal belief that IBS is a secondary condition rather then a condition unto itself.

For years doctors have proposed the secondary condition concept in relation to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Unfortunately, they have not yet been able to successfully document any evidence to conclusively say what might be the root cause of IBS. Moreover, I believe there is not just one cause, but several causes, all with the same secondary symptoms, which make up what is termed as IBS.

Please don't think that it is my intent to say the IBS condition is not real, or the symptomology is psychosomatic in nature. I know from painful experience the condition and symptoms of IBS are very real. I also would venture to say because of the sheer number of reported cases, the medical community had been forced to re-evaluate their approach while dealing with patients with complaints of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms. I am merely going to express what I personally have concluded about another possible causation for IBS which may be overlooked by the medical profession.

I would like to also toss up for consideration that IBS, with its list of many symptoms, may be a traceable progression of symptoms stemming from a single causation. I believe, in my case, this is a very valid assumption. I have as yet been unable to get any physician to agree with me, at least to the point of taking up the position on the record.

Before going any further, I think it would be a good idea to review a partial list of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. IBS may be characterized by a combination of any or all of the following symptoms:

o Abdominal discomfort or pain, usually in the lower abdomen

o Altered bowel habit

o Chronic or recurrent diarrhea, constipation, or both. May be mixed or in alternation.

o Bloating

o Heartburn

o Nausea

o Abdominal fullness

o Feelings of urgent need to evacuate the bowel

o Feeling of "incomplete" bowel emptying

o Low back pain

o Headache

o Fatigue

o Muscle pain

o Sleep disturbances

o Sexual dysfunction

More and more it is generally believed that the symptoms of IBS are produced by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. More and more I personally agree with this as a valid and plausible perception of at least one of the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. With some personal observations, I hope to give light as to why I believe this to be a possible causation for many IBS sufferers. Unfortunately, what I have come to believe as the causation for my particular brand of IBS, most assuredly will not be a diagnosis for all cases of IBS.

I think we who have suffered Irritable Bowel Syndrome tend to minimalize our symptoms and pain. We have been led to believe that other than common sense changes to diet and exercise there is nothing we can do because there is no cure. Many people who suffer will suffer in silence for years before seeking medical treatment. By then, and I include myself in this group, we may have subconsciously lessened or even put aside some of the lesser symptoms that IBS causes, focusing only on the ones that cause the most pain and discomfort.

Worse yet, we are less likely to bring symptoms to the attention of a doctor by mere assumption that it is just another facet of our complex disorder. This could become a dangerous scenario for anyone who suffers from IBS. We may ignore persistent symptoms that have gotten more intense or new symptoms that seem to be related only because we are discouraged by being told there is nothing anyone can do.

Doing these kinds of things could lead to serious life threatening symptoms being overlooked. Symptoms of conditions that, unlike IBS, can be treated if caught in time. Things like colon cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer or many others, might be missed because we want to ignore our IBS symptoms after so many trips to the doctor.

My story of IBS starts over 20 years ago when I was a young man of 26. While helping lift a very heavy cast iron wood burning stove from the back of a pickup truck, the other person lost their grip and the load all shifted down hill onto my back. I felt my back give way as the stove went crashing to the ground at my feet. I knew I had sustained a serious injury. I couldn't erect myself from the 90 degree bent forward position I was in. I had to literally pull my self up by using my hands and arms against the side of the pickup.

Being 26 and stubborn and thinking that I was invincible, I had my wife help me home and to bed, not bothering to go to the emergency room. I had some left over pain killers which numbed the pain enough to allow me to sleep. When I awoke in the morning I was horrified as I could not feel my legs. They were both cold and numb to the touch. I could move them, I just couldn't feel them. After about 30 minutes of movement the feeling began to return to my legs and at that point I knew it was time to get to the doctor.

After the examination and x-rays what the doctor had to say wasn't pleasant to hear. He told me I had two options. One was to go to a surgical specialist and have fusion surgery on several of my lower lumbar vertebra because the discs between them had been severely compressed. He mentioned that having this type of surgery would reduce my physical mobility by as much as 30% or more. At best, he explained, the surgery was about 40% effective.

My other option, he told me, was time... time allow let my body try to heal itself. He explained I would probably never be as good as I was before the accident, but with time my body should partially heal it self. He told me the inflammation which was causing the pain and partial paralysis should lessen. At age 26 losing permanently 30% or more of my mobility was an unthinkable option. At least the second option offered some hope of recovery. He gave me muscle relaxants and pain pills and that was that.

I trusted this doctor...we were good friends. We had a good personal and professional relationship. I took him at his word. By today's medical standards, his medical advice probably wouldn't hold water, but over 20 years ago, it was most likely a very good perception of my problem.

For the next 6 months, I would wake up to cold, numb legs and each day, but as he said, the symptoms gradually got better. I was so focused on my back injury improving; I didn't pay attention to other, minor things going on which had become bothersome.

The first and most prevalent symptom was a change in my bowel habit. Not a big change, but it seemed that instead of a daily movement, it was now once every other day, and it took a bit more effort. But with the back issue, it seemed minor in comparison and for several years seemed to be the only symptom. My back continued to get better but my bowel never did return to normal.

I have always been a large person, in 1986 at the age of 26: I weighed about 220 pounds, standing 6 feet tall. Slowly, my weight began to rise. I attributed my initial weight gain to a lessening of physical activity over the first year or two of my back problem. By the end of the second year, my physical ability and activity had almost returned to normal. I learned to deal with the pain and my legs no longer went numb. I was able to function fairly well. Only occasionally did the pain in my back become such that I was unable to function in my "new" normal fashion, and usually only lasted a day or two. I now had added 70 pounds to my weight with no real explanation.

Only in the past couple of years (over 20 have passed since my back injury) have I begun considering the original injury being related to my bowel and stomach problems. Because I believed there was little I could do to rectify the situation, I have done as well as I could to manage the pain mentally. I did this well until the pain in my back started to worsen to the point that again my legs started going numb again. Not that this happened all the time, it was only occasional, but these bouts of pain have gotten much worse.

Only now that the back pain is impossible to ignore have I come to realize the cycle of events which have taken place. Now when I notice my legs are beginning to go numb on a more frequent basis, I have also noticed an increase in my IBS symptoms. More frequent and painful symptoms seem to begin with chronic constipation, lasting for many days. This is followed by the gas distress fatigue, head aches, bloating, acid indigestion, heartburn and eventually explosive diarrhea. Along with other symptoms, all interwoven into a cycle I now believe to be directly related to some type of nerve injury due to my original back injury.

I have since gone to a neurosurgeon and been diagnosed with severe disk compression and degeneration and spinal stenosis in the lower lumbar region. The treatment is as yet to be mapped out, but I now have at least one doctor who agrees that many, if not all, of my symptoms could be tied directly to nerve dysfunction resulting from my present spinal condition.

If you have sustained a back injury, or have IBS with lower back pain, it may be prudent to have a spinal study, to find out if an underlying back problem might be involved in the causation of your IBS symptoms. It stands to practical reason that if there is injury to the spine or lower back from where the nerves controlling lower bowl function stem, there could also be bowel dysfunction. With bowel dysfunction, the progression of symptoms in logical sequence right up the line to the top of the digestive tract would be a very plausible scenario.

If you have IBS and low back pain you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain by having a spinal examination. At the very least you may find out that there is no problem with your spine thereby eliminating one more source.

The Lumbar Multifidus Muscle & Chronic Low Back Pain


It is well known that within the general population, 60-80% of individuals will experience an episode of low back pain (LBP) during their lifetime, with many experiencing more than one episode.

Spinal stabilization therapy has become very popular for treating LBP, and appears to be more effective over time than minimal intervention and exercise therapy alone. It has also been observed to reduce pain and disability associated with low back pain, as well as medication use and recurrence rates. Increasing our understanding of the mechanics of the low back - specifically with respect to the ability to stabilize the spinal "Neutral Zone" - was critical to the development of this exercise approach. From a rehabilitation and exercise perspective, our focus has shifted to strengthening and reactivating the stabilizing muscles of the spine, while encouraging proper motor control and "grooving" proper movement patterns. The lumbar mutifidus muscle(s) play a key role in stabilizing the spine. Therefore, neuromuscular training directed at 'neutral zone' stabilization is thought to impact these muscles and the outcome of LBP, disability, recurrence and prevention.

To quickly review, the "Neutral Zone", originally proposed by Panjabi, is defined as the part of the range of intervertebral motion, measured from the neutral position, in which spinal motion can occur with minimal non-muscular, passive resistance from spinal structures.

Lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM) are important stabilizers of this neutral zone, and dysfunction in these muscles is consistently associated with low back pain in existing studies. This dysfunction may be the result of reflexive inhibition from the spine leading to atrophic changes in the LMM musculature and fatty replacement that can be visualized on MRI.

This article discusses the role of LMM in recurrent (chronic) low back pain and reviews several literature-based approaches pertaining to the assessment and treatment of LMM dysfunction. The "Additional References" section below can serve as a resource for those interested in more information on this topic.

Multifidus Function:

Multifidus are important stabilizers of the lumbar region, and account for more than two-thirds of the stiffness in the spine when it is in the neutral position.

LMM is divided into deep in superficial fibers: the deep fibers span 2 segments and are tonically innervated; while superficial fibers span 3-5 levels and function physically. This anatomical architecture makes it suitable mechanically as well as anatomically for optimal stabilization.

Multifidus Atrophy and Low Back Pain:

The pathological process that involves the LMM and can accompany LBP closely includes LMM atrophy and replacement of this muscle with fat (this can also occur after low back surgery). This is typically classified as: none, slight and severe in imaging studies. Such changes have been demonstrated in adults with LBP, and do not appear to be correlated with Body Mass Index.

"Dorsal ramus syndrome" (low back pain with referred leg pain) produced by the irritation of structures supplied by the dorsal ramus (i.e. facet joints and LMM) might very well explain atrophic changes observed in the LMM after injury. In turn, abnormalities of the LMM might explain referred leg pain in the absence of other MRI abnormalities such as obvious disc or neural compromise.

Advanced imaging (MRI) of the lumbar multifidus can measure atrophy and fatty replacement with good inter-observer reliability.

Multifidus Atrophy and Reflexive Inhibition:

LMM is divided into five distinct myotomes, each innervated by a single spinal segment - medial branch of the dorsal ramus - which also innervates the zygapophyseal joints. The shared innervation suggests that nociceptive input from the facet joints could result in reflexive inhibition and subsequent atrophy of the LMM at the same level.

LMM atrophy seen in the human spine as a result of reflexive inhibition is caused by afferent feedback from the zygapophyseal joint. This in turn impedes the voluntary activation of the LMM. The inhibitory response might explain (at least in part) the efficacy of manual approaches such as manipulation and mobilization directed at the facet joints.

In animal models, rapid onset of LMM atrophy can occur within as little as three days after experimentally induced nerve root injury.

LMM atrophy tends to be local in studies comparing multifidus size and symmetry between chronic low back patients and healthy asymptomatic subjects.

LMM atrophy is typically associated with reduction in the ability to voluntary contract the muscles.

There is also evidence to suggest that those with LBP and LMM atrophy demonstrate a significantly decreased ability to perform isometric contractions of the multifidus muscle.

Clinical Application & Conclusions: Multifidus Atrophy - Treatment:

In one study a randomized group of patients were allocated into three programs: i) stabilization training, ii) stabilization training combined with dynamic resistance, and iii) stabilization training with dynamic-static resistance. CT scan was used to monitor LMM development over 10 weeks of training. Conclusions indicated that concentric and eccentric contraction phases were critical to induce LMM re-growth.

Exercise specifically designed to increase the ability to contract LMM improves functions and reduces LBP disability.

In general, the research supports the concept that the LMM are critical stabilizers for the lumbar spine neutral zone, and that atrophy in these muscles is strongly correlated with low back pain & dysfunction. It has been suggested that the atrophy perpetuates an inhibitory feedback loop that begins with pain in the spine and can be associated with additional areas sharing the same segmental innervations (i.e. from the dorsal rami of the spinal nerve), which would include the intervertebral disc and facet joints. The sequela to this is mostly likely reflexive inhibition of the multifidus and fatty replacement of that musculature, subsequent weakening of the area, and insidious dysfunction and pain.

It was noted that LMM atrophy can exist in the general population, including highly active and elite athletes. This may be one reason for the high recurrence of low back pain - particularly after traumatic episodes where LMM atrophic changes occur. This would further suggest that conditioning of the LMM is an integral part of low back function - not only from a rehabilitation perspective but also as a prophylactic or preventive measure for promoting general back health...as always, GET YOUR PATIENTS EXERCISING!

Leg Tingling and Lower Back Pain - Reducing Discomfort - Braces For Support


Have you been experiencing a funny feeling of tingling in your legs?

Does this tingling also cause you pain sometimes?

1.) Introduction

There are a great number of people living with lower back pain. Lower back pain (LBP) can extend down to the upper thighs and beyond, down to your feet and toes. The pain may not give you any warning before coming on. The onset of pain can also be sudden. You may know this all to well! The pain can also follow an injury involving your back. Many times, you may not be able to pinpoint the reasons behind the pain.

- Lower back pain, leg tingling and numbness might precede, succeed or accompany the pain. You may not be able to turn over while laying in bed either, because if you do, this may result in sharp pain. Moreover, the seemingly unconnected activities like a sneeze will accentuate the pain and so will a cough.

2.) The Tingling Sensation You Get

The tingling may subside in a few minutes and the numbness may go away too after a flare up occurs. The pain, however, may remain. It may sometimes take some weeks to recover, but the pain, while it lasts, can be unbearable. A ruptured disc, a lumber muscle strain or a herniated disc could all be reasons behind lower back pain. Pain in the spine can bring on lower back pain and leg tingling. When the pain persists and does not go away after a regimen of treatment, you might experience weakness in your upper and lower legs. If the affected person is comparatively old, the pain will be acute and the lower back pain and leg tingling will keep recurring with increasing regularity.

While it is only irritating to some to have this tingling, to most people it is more than irritating. There are a number of people who had tried to get up and lost their balance and fallen down. Lower back and a tingling leg is the culprit.

3.) Treatment

Doctors treat the condition with data collected from blood tests, x-rays (sparingly used) and scans. Medications are fine, but physical exercises can do a lot to alleviate the pain. Aerobic exercises have proved to be effective in reducing the pain, but vigorous exercises should be avoided to avoid lower leg pain and leg tingling.

Another effective form of conservative treatment is the use of a low profile back support. Back braces can help promote good posture and can also promote the healing process. When it comes to getting the support you need, it is important to work with a local, licensed orthotist. These are brace professionals that can help take the pain away if you are currently suffering.

Relieve Your Lower Back Pain Fast With These Three Simple Exercises


If you are suffering from lower back pain, all you need is exercises to help strengthen your back muscles and make it much stronger. These exercises should not be rushed, because it will not do your back any good, therefore you should take your time while practicing the exercises. You should stop if you feel uncomfortable when doing any of the exercises and let your back relax for a bit. Before doing these exercises try to stretch your back.

Exercise One - Lie on the floor and position your lower back pressed against the floor. Cross your arms and put them onto your chest. Now lift your head and tuck it into your chest, you should make sure that your back is still flat against the floor. Try tightening the muscles in your abdomen while your head and shoulders are lifted off the floor. You can hold this position for ten to fifteen seconds or until you feel uncomfortable. Now relax and repeat this exercise another four times. You can continue with the length of time you are holding the position or you can gradually increase the length of time you are holding the position for, and also gradually increase the number of repetitions.

Exercise Two - You start by lying on your back on your bed, then gently bend one knee and slowly start to move this towards your chest. Ensure that while you are doing this, you are pressing your lower back against the mattress. Try to hold this position until you start to feel it becoming uncomfortable. Now relax and lie down again, repeat this exercise with your other knee. As soon as you are through with one repetition, you should repeat the same thing on both knees another four times. Once you get more experienced you can increase the number of sets that you do.

Exercise Three - Lie down on your back and position your arms relaxed by lying down beside your sides. Try to keep your knees flat on the bed or floor and bend your knees. Your lower back should be pressed firmly against the floor and you will observe that your hips should start to rise. Make sure you hold this position for ten seconds and then relax. Repeat the exercise several times; gradually increase the length of time you hold the position for, so that eventually you are holding for one minute.

There are techniques to permanently cure your lower back pain. These techniques should be methods of physical and mental re-education to reduce habitual and unnecessary tension in all your activity through awareness of balance, posture and movement. It should also show you how to identify the cause of your pain.