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Q) I strained my lower back doing DIY. Should I give it complete rest, or would gentle stretches and yoga poses help speed up the healing process?
By slhaf | May 19, 2009
A) First you need to find out if the strain is just muscular or something more. Go to see a chiropractor, osteopath or physiotherapist who specialises in back care. It’s a worthwhile investment, as they can not only help you to get to the bottom of your injury but also give you some good advice to prevent it happening again.
Gentle stretches and yoga poses can really help. It’s important however to make sure you do the right ones. It’s also worth noting that the reason we tend to strain our backs is because of a lack of mobility in the first place. Once you have gained some good advice from a professional and are on the road to recovery, start to think about an exercise programme that can help to strengthen your back. Pilates can be a really good way to do this but there are also great programmes you can do in the gym. The important factor is finding a teacher who really knows their stuff. Your back care professional should be able to help you find someone.
It’s also worth finding a centre where your back-care professional works alongside others, such as Pilates teachers and personal trainers who specialise in the same field. If you are in London, try www.balancephysio.com. This is a physiotherapy centre, which also has a Pilate’s studio and a gym alongside it so lots of professionals who can really help!
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