People with back pain often shy away from movement. Getting in the water may help, experts say

People with back pain often shy away from movement. Getting in the water may help, experts say | CBC Radio LoadedCanadians who suffer with back pain often fear exertion might make it worse. But experts say movement is vital to healing, and getting in the water could help overcome those fears.Canadians who suffer with back pain often fear exertion might make it worse. But experts say movement is vital to healing, and water-based exercise could help overcome those fears.

Beaudette said these fears are also fuelled by a "kind of rhetoric ... our spines are fragile, they're susceptible to injury" — but he argues that moving your body in different and varied ways is key to avoiding repeated stress that can lead to pain. That means getting out for a walk if you work a sedentary job, or mixing in breaks if your work is more manual.

"I think getting somebody into the water, getting them away from kind of more traditional, weight-bearing exercises will help to provide a nice challenge to some of the trunk muscles … in a less risky type of environment," he said., a broad category that includes pain coinciding with an underlying disease or issue, such as pain from cancer treatment or surgery. It also includes pain that has no identifiable cause, or pain that persists after an injury has healed.

"On the other end of the spectrum, those that are continuously loading their spine, for example, by lifting a load … that can cause lower back pain too." "Water assists movement. So if you're standing in the water … and you raise your arms, it's assisting in that movement," said Bonnyman, the founder of Canadian Aquatic Rehab Instructors, which teaches aquatic therapy techniques.

"I felt more secure in the pool, particularly as I could move my legs more easily, certainly the injured knee," she said. "It helped with the healing."Bonnyman said that warm water can also have a relaxing effect, reducing that fear of injury. Where that fear persists, or someone has an added fear around water, she said therapists can use flotation devices and safety features like handrails to reassure people.

Health Health Latest News, Health Health Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Water main break prompts boil water advisory for Alberta townA water main break shut off water for the town of Millet, Alta., on Friday and a boil water advisory was issued by Alberta Health Services. 
Source: GlobalCalgary - 🏆 50. / 61 Read more »