Choosing physiotherapy exercises for a hernia of the lumbar spine 1

Exercise therapy for diseases of the lumbar spine is the main method of treatment. It relieves pain, strengthens the muscular corset, improves blood circulation, and returns the spine to its natural position.

Sergei Bubnovsky calls osteochondrosis rust of the spine. A respected doctor and author of a unique technique called the reasons for its development not genetics, but laziness. Muscular atrophy limits the nutrition of the intervertebral discs, which leads to drying and extrusion of a part into the spinal canal - this is how hernias appear. The lumbar region suffers the most. The only effective remedy for a hernia of the lumbar spine is exercise therapy, which will improve the blood supply to the affected area and accelerate the regeneration of cartilage tissue.

The effectiveness of exercise therapy

Therapeutic exercises for a hernia of the spine in the lumbar region are not an ordinary means of rehabilitation, but part of the treatment process. Severe pain significantly limits the movement of the patient, which accelerates the development of the disease.
Strict implementation of recommendations and daily exercises allow avoiding surgical intervention, which until recently was the only way to treat lumbar hernias. The main goals of exercise therapy for this disease or after surgery:

• Restore muscle elasticity.
• Establish proper blood circulation to nourish the spine and muscles.
• Restore lymph flow.
• Return the spine to its former mobility.
• Reduce pain syndrome.

The listed goals will be achieved only when working with maximum effort. Doctors note that the effectiveness depends on only 10% of the correct choice of exercises, and the remaining 90% depends on the determination of the person.

Therapeutic exercise significantly improves the condition of patients diagnosed with disc protrusion and Schmorl's hernia. She helps:

• Strengthen the muscular corset, which will allow you to properly fix the spine, removing the load from the lumbar region.
• Reduce pain. Often severe pain makes patients only lie down.
• Relax muscles, relieve spasm.
• Improve blood supply to affected areas. Improper nutrition of tissues is the main reason for the development of this type of pathology.
• Remove inflammatory processes.

At first, you should practice under the guidance of an instructor: he will teach you how to perform all the exercises correctly so as not to damage the spine. Further, it is permissible to practice at home.

Contraindications for performing exercise therapy at home with a hernia of the spine:

• oncology;
• hypertensive crisis;
• stroke;
• temperature increase;
• preinfarction state;
• exacerbation of the disease;
• little time has passed since the surgery.

Do not self-medicate. A set of exercises and additional methods of treatment are prescribed by a doctor only after a complete examination.

How to choose a set of exercises

Physical exercise is an important part of the treatment of lumbar hernia. The choice of the complex depends on the characteristics and localization of the disease. Doctors also recommend strengthening the hip joints and abdominal muscles.

With low motor activity, the muscles begin to atrophy, which leads to the progression of the pathology. A weakened muscular corset is not able to provide the spine with the correct position, which causes further deformation of the discs. The entire load is transferred to the cartilage or bone tissue.

Ideally, the exercises are selected by the doctor for each patient separately. But if this is not possible, then you can start doing it yourself. In most cities there are rehabilitation centers where specialists work. In the acute period of the disease, it is better to deal with them, and in the future - to consult with them as necessary.

Exercise therapy classes begin during remission with an experienced instructor. Any wrong move can cause serious complications. Even a small displacement of the disk increases pressure on the nerve endings, can compress blood vessels and damage the spinal cord.
Several methods of exercise therapy have been compiled, taking into account the characteristics of this disease. But they all have similar restrictions:

• You can’t do it after the onset of a pain symptom, it may indicate a displacement of the discs.
• Do not use twisting exercises without preparation and with an advanced form of the disease.
• Any blows in the lumbar region are excluded, as well as jumps and jerks.
• Avoid sudden movements.
• A sharp load on an unprepared spine will only aggravate the disease.

Classes will increase mobility and allow you to do your usual activities if:

• start after the cessation of pain;
• practice every day;
• the total duration of classes is 1 hour: 2-3 times for 20-30 minutes;
• maximum repetition of one exercise - 10 times;
• the load is increased after strengthening the muscles and joints;
• carefully monitor the body and sensations when performing exercises;
• use only the complex recommended by the doctor;
• when pain occurs, reduce the intensity.

Types of occupations

1 Yoga– not only physical exercises. It requires proper nutrition and regimen, as well as the rejection of all bad habits. Classes should be conducted only with an instructor.

2 Pilates- the gymnastic complex will help to improve posture. Allows you to restore the mobility of the vertebrae, remove clamps and infringements, make the muscular corset resistant, and the spine flexible. Exercises are discussed with the instructor.

3 Swimming positively affects the musculoskeletal system and all organs. Water helps to remove the main load from the spine and evenly distributes it throughout the body. The joints are in a natural position, the water relaxes the nervous and muscular systems. Swimming is the safest activity for a lumbar hernia. Regular exercises reduce pain, improve blood circulation, strengthen the muscle corset. The back crawl is considered the most effective style. Before starting, consult with a doctor about choosing a complex. If something causes discomfort, it is replaced. The first lessons are conducted with an instructor.

4 Hang on the horizontal bar positively affects the well-being of patients. There is an increase in the intervertebral space, which reduces the pressure of the protrusion on the nerve and muscle tissues. It requires the presence of an instructor, since the stretching is uneven, loading some areas of the spine.

Overweight people should not hang on the horizontal bar. A large mass will lead to a strong stretching of the spine.

5 Dikul complex. Developed by trial and error by an orthopedic doctor who suffered a fracture of the spine. Part of the complex shows good results in the treatment of hernias on the spine. The intensity and time of training is negotiated with the doctor and depends on the degree of the disease, muscle development.

6 Bubnovsky exercises based on kinesiotherapy. All the smallest muscles are included in the work, which helps to relieve spasm. The spine becomes flexible, elastic and durable. Certain movements reduce the protrusion, the spine keeps its natural shape. The main principle is comfort and convenience during classes. Exercises are well suited for losing weight in patients with a problem spine.

It should definitely be noted that a number of exercises are contraindicated for spinal hernia:

1. leg press. The person lies on his back, and pushes the load up with his feet. The spine is under enormous stress.
on straight legs overloads the intervertebral discs.
2. Twisting. Some movements in the lumbar region lead to pinching of the protrusion.
3. Weightlifting. Strength exercises are always a high load on the spine.
4. Run. The intervertebral discs are not able to cope with the function of depreciation, which causes their deformation.

The remaining complexes are best discussed with an orthopedist or chiropractor.

Note!

When doing exercise therapy, they choose exercises with smooth movements that do not cause discomfort. Some exercises are diagnostic in nature: if earlier there was pain during their performance, and then it stopped, then the patient began the process of recovery.

In the acute period, they strive to provide a minimum load on the spine. Home exercises are aimed at relieving stress and relaxing muscles:

• Stretching on the Swedish wall and incline bench. The end of the board is fixed at a height of 1 meter from the floor. The patient lays down with his stomach down for a couple of minutes. The exercise is associated with a slight stretching of the spine and does not cause discomfort.
• Lying on a ball. The patient lies with his back on a large ball, makes small reciprocating movements. Spiked balls stimulate blood circulation.
• Tension of individual parts in the supine position. Exercises should strengthen the abdominal muscles. Lying on your back, stretch your arms along the body, tense / relax the abdominal muscles a couple of times. Then they create tension in the shoulder blades, palms, buttocks, the back of the head and in all the protruding places of the back - they press individual sections to the floor.

Exercise therapy for hernia

The set of exercises described below will help eliminate spasms, strengthen the spine, and reduce pain.
1 Lie on a hard surface, legs and arms at the seams. Slowly raise the body without lifting the limb from the surface. Raise the pelvis by 8-15 cm and hold for 10 seconds. Do multiple approaches. After a week, you can increase the distance and increase the time.

2 Lie on your back and stretch your arms forward, and bend your legs at the knees. Gently raise your head 15 cm without moving your spine. Hold for 20-40 seconds.

3 Lie on your back, bend your legs slightly. The right hand is placed on the left knee, the leg is gently bent, resisting the force of the hand. Duration - 10 seconds. Change arm, leg.

4 Squat down so that the buttocks rest on the heels. Stretch forward with straight arms, without moving the buttocks away from the heels. Allows you to round your back by stretching your muscles.

5 Sit on a chair, stretch your legs, spread them 90 degrees. Bend over to each leg 15 times.

6 Lie on your back, bend your knees slightly. Gently pull your knees to your chest, clasping your hands. When tension appears in the back, hold for 10 seconds. Perform 10 times.

Additional Information. Experts note the high effectiveness of twisting exercises. However, they are performed in the later stages of training. Such exercises heavily load the spine, causing pain in physically unprepared patients.

Exercise therapy after hernia removal

In the postoperative period, a different medical complex is required. Each section of the spine has its own complex. Exercise therapy should speed up recovery by strengthening muscles and stabilizing the spine.
Conventionally, there are 3 stages of recovery with the help of exercise therapy:

• Prevention of pain syndrome.
• Adaptation to life.
• Recovery of biomechanics and prevention of relapse.

Exercises after surgery are performed, adhering to certain rules:

• The sooner the patient begins to engage in exercise therapy, the faster he will recover. Classes should begin only after the elimination of acute symptoms.
• Avoid movements that cause pain.
• You should start with a simple one, gradually increasing the load.
• Physical activity is selected according to the time elapsed after surgery.
• Initially, the exercises are done at a slow pace.
• Classes are held every day.

The effectiveness of exercise therapy after surgery depends on persistence and regularity. After surgery on the lumbar spine, you can walk on the first day, but it is worth a lot of rest - lie down for 20 minutes several times.

Therapeutic exercise will include:

1 Breathing exercises. Improves gas exchange in the body and helps to avoid postoperative complications.

2 Kinesiotherapy activates the internal resources of the body. Movements are limited in amplitude and time. Exercises are performed on orthopedic simulators.

3 Traction therapy. Traction helps to cope with the compression of the nerve roots, improves motor capabilities. Allocate dry traction on special beds and underwater in the vertical and horizontal directions.

The first days in the ward, you should perform exercises, gradually increasing the load, several times a day:

1. Circular movements of the legs.
2. Flexion / extension of the legs.
3. Raise/lower feet.
4. Pulling / straightening the knees to the abdomen.

In the following days, the complex for restoring the body is complicated:

• push-ups 10-15 times;
• "bicycle" in the prone position 10 ... 100 times;
• squats 10-15 times.

These exercises will help prepare the spine for daily stress.

Video

The video shows important exercises in the postoperative period.

Bubnovsky complex

The Bubnovsky complex prevents the development of the disease and reduces the size of the hernia. The professor combined the best exercises for treatment and subsequent recovery. The technique is called rehabilitation of an extreme type - it helps in hopeless situations.

Gymnastics is based on simple kinesitherapy exercises. Proper exercises are completely safe and useful for patients; they can be the prevention of diseases of the lumbar spine. Exercises are best performed in centers on special simulators. Allocate anesthetic physical education, for stretching and adaptive gymnastics.

It is permissible to perform an adaptive course at home on your own:

1. From the “kneeling” position, sit on your heels with your buttocks (“sit on your heels”) and breathe properly.
2. Lie on your back with your knees bent. On exhalation, the body is torn off the floor, bending the back.
3. Similar to the previous exercise, they only tear off the knees and elbows, trying to connect them.
4. Lie on your side and group up. Change side.
5. Stand up, leaning on your knees and palms. Raise the lower leg by turning the pelvis. The movements resemble tail wagging.
6. In the previous position, make back-and-forth body movements, bending your elbows.
7. As exercise 6, but when tilting, extend the straight leg.
8. Sit on your heels and stretch your arms back.
9. Sit down and straighten your legs. Do "scissors", leaning on your hands.
10. Lie on your side and swing with a bent, then a straight leg.

Video

A more detailed set of exercises can be studied in the video. It will help you choose the required set of exercises on your own.

A properly selected complex of exercise therapy and daily exercises for a hernia of the lumbar spine will help restore movement, reduce pain, and make muscles and joints work properly. The variety of exercises allows you to create an individual complex, taking into account the characteristics of the disease and the physical condition of the body.