The back is a complex framework of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and disks. Back injury or strain is the result of various circumstances, such as carelessly lifting something very heavy, an unexpected jolt from an automobile accident,trauma from a particular sport or from even seemingly innocuous movements, including leaning over to do house or garden work. Whatever the cause, back pain accompanies back injuries and should be addressed by a doctor who specializes in back pain. Some doctors may refer you to a physical therapist who specializes in water therapy.
Types
Practitioners who specialize in back pain include spine doctors and surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, osteopaths, neurologists, orthopedists, radiologists, rheumatologists and/or chiropractors. Which type of practitioner you decide to visit depends on the severity of your back pain. Chronic back pain is defined as a progressive condition that lasts more than three months.(
Benefits
According to physiatrist Andrew J. Cole and Bruce Erhart Becker, a doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, aquatic exercise can provide relief from back pain, particularly warm water. Warm water therapy is especially beneficial if you can not do regular, land-based exercises because of the impact. Exercising in the water can strengthen your back muscles, prevent future incidences of pain and it offers the same benefits of land-based exercises in terms of conditioning back muscles and managing pain.
Significance
Water has characteristics that make it the ideal element in which your back muscles can relax and heal. It has buoyancy that bolsters the patient's weight even if she is immersed. The buoyancy of water also allows an ample range of motion due to the lack of gravity. Water has density and pressure that offer the patient an easy means of resistance and reduces weight on the spine.
Prevention/Solution
A number of specific exercises focus on particular areas of the back. A knee-to-chest exercise is done while you are balancing on one partially bent leg, while the other leg is stretched out. Bend the outstretched leg back and forth to your chest while holding on to the side of the pool with one hand. Alternately, this exercise can be performed by simply raising the leg up and down. Another exercise that strengthens all the areas of the back is one in which you are stretched out; your body is supported by the water, both hands holding onto the side of the pool.
Considerations
All aquatic exercises should be under the direction of a certified physical therapist who specializes in rehabilitation. Make sure the water temperature is between 90 to 94 degrees F. If you suffer from poor eyesight or have a limited range of motion, consult with your doctor before beginning an aquatic exercise program and be sure that the physical therapist is customizing the program to address your particular back issue.
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