Getting plenty of exercise and playing sports is good for our overall health. It also adds pleasure and a sense of well-being to our lives.
Almost any sport will place at least some stress on your spine, some more than others. That is why it is important to keep the muscles and ligaments that support your spine flexible and strong. A healthy spine can help prevent many sports injuries.
Getting these muscles to the point where they support your spine well is called core strengthening. Ask your health care provider or physical therapist about these strengthening exercises.
For more tips when and how to return to sports after an injury, see Returning to work.
Although bicycling strengthens the muscles of your legs, it does not do much for the muscles around your spine itself. Bending your lower spine forward while arching your upper back for long periods of time can strain your back and neck muscles. Mountain biking on uneven surfaces can cause jarring and sudden compressions (squeezing) on the spine.
Some tips to help make bicycling easier on your back are:
The muscles that bring your leg up toward your abdomen are called flexors. They are used a lot when you ride a bicycle. Keeping these muscles stretched out is important because it will help keep the proper balance in the muscles around your spine and hips.
Weightlifting can put a lot of stress on the spine. This is especially true for people who are middle-aged and older because their spinal disks may dry out and become thinner and more brittle with age. Disks are the "cushions" between the bones of your spine.
Along with muscle and ligament injuries, weightlifters are also at risk for a type of stress fracture in the back called spondylolysis.
Some tips to prevent injuries when weightlifting are:
The golf swing requires forceful rotation of your spine, and this puts stress on your spinal muscles, ligaments, joints, and disks.
Ask your physical therapist about the best posture and technique for your swing. Warm up and stretch your muscles in your back and upper legs before starting a game. Bend with your knees when picking up the golf ball. If you are carrying a bag, get one with two straps and wear both straps while carrying it. You should also get a golf bag with a built-in stand.
The disks and the small joints in the back are called facet joints. Running causes repeated jarring and compression on these areas of your lumbar spine.
Some tips to help reduce the stress on your spine include:
Motions that place stress on your spine while playing tennis include overextending (arching) your back when serving, constant stopping and starting motions, and forceful twisting of your spine when taking shots.
A tennis coach or your physical therapist can show you different techniques that can help reduce the stress on your back. For example, bending your knees and keeping your abdominal muscles tighter can reduce stress on your spine. Ask about the best ways to serve to avoid overextending your lower back.
Before playing, always warm up and stretch the muscles in your legs and lower back. Learn exercises that strengthen the core muscles deep inside your abdomen pelvis that support your spine.
Before going back to skiing after a back injury, learn exercises that strengthen the core muscles deep inside your spine and pelvis. A physical therapist may also help you to build strength and flexibility in the muscles that you use when you twist and turn while skiing.
Before you start skiing, warm up and stretch the muscles in your legs and lower back. Make sure you only ski down slopes that match your skill level.
Although swimming can strengthen the muscles and ligaments in your spine and legs, it can also stress your spine by:
Swimming on your side or back can avoid these movements. Using a snorkel and mask may help decrease the neck turning when you breathe.
Proper technique when swimming is also important. This includes keeping your body level in the water, tightening your abdominal muscles somewhat, and keeping your head on the surface of the water and not holding it in a lifted position.
Updated by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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