Pool Spine Workout
By Amy Price PhD
Chronic pain and balance can be improved with water exercise. Exercise releases feel good chemicals in the brain that are powerful mood booster and pain fighters. These neurochemicals help balance mood swings and the other benefits are looking better and having a body that burns fat more effectively. Many spinal patients can’t get the exercise they need because they find exercise painful torture so they lied down on the couch with a snack until feelings (mostly guilt) about exercise go away. This perpetuates the cycle as muscles and joint get stiff and lose flexibility, loss of muscle means less fat is burned and guilt and low energy levels steal that feel good feeling.
Water provides a safe medium for joints and working in water improves balance. Be sure to choose a warm place for your water workout to avoid muscle spasms. Afterwards a hot bath with a couple of cups of epsom salts included can provides an inexpensive muscle soothing experience. The NCPAD has some great information on how to get started and exercise in water safely. Here are more aquatic exercises . If you are a swimmer add some power to your water workout with swim fins for the feet and hands.
The buoyancy of water reduces the “weight” of a person by about 90%, (at least while in the water!) which means that the stress on weight bearing joints, bones and muscles is lessened. That’s why aqua exercies are good for people with arthritis or back problems. You still get a great work out, it just doesn’t hurt! Water exercise can encompass all of the components of fitness: cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. And, when done regularly, water exercise can help reduce body fat
Need some help with diet too? Check out this information on diet for pain relief and clear thinking here
