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Back Pain Back Pain Basics

Dodging Lower Back Pain

Summary & Participants

Getting in shape and strengthening core muscles can help keep you pain free.

Medically Reviewed On: August 07, 2008

Webcast Transcript

p>Oliver Realino, Physical Therapist: I'm going to have you position your feet on top of this ball

ANNOUNCER: Ed is hoping to banish lower back pain by strengthening his core muscles – the ones that support his spine.

Ed, Has Low Back Pain: I don't do enough core strengthening. You really have to go home and do these exercises twice a day. So, as far as I can stick with them, it's going well and -- and I’ve been pretty disciplined about it thus far.

ANNOUNCER: Back specialist Neal Mesnick says the core is the key to preventing lower back pain as well.

Neal Mesnick, MD, Physiatrist: I find that, when people exercise more regularly, have good, strong core muscles, they have less incidence of back pain.

ANNOUNCER: Building flexibility is also important.

Oliver Realino, Physical Therapist: If my hamstrings are tight, it's going to pull my butt downwards and forward. What would happen to lower back? It will push you forward and somehow flatten your back. It equals to sprain, strain, lower back pains and tightness and so on and so it's a vicious cycle.

ANNOUNCER: To keep your back pain free, Dr. Mesnick says you need to maintain a healthy weight, and if you smoke, quit.

Neal Mesnick, MD, Physiatrist: Anything that would decrease blood flow to an area such as cigarette smoking, it's polluting the oxygen getting to the area is not going to help it to heal.

ANNOUNCER: Ed is working hard to make lower back pain a thing of the past.

Ed, Has Low Back Pain: I mean, it's one of those commitments where there's not a choice. I mean, your option one is to commit yourself to getting better. Option two is to sit in your chair in pain. Option one seems very easy.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.