| If you're one of the millions of people (golfers) with | | | | - Exercises to reduce low back pain are not |
| back pain, what are you doing about it? Please don't | | | | complicated and can be done at home without any |
| tell me you pop a few ibuprofen and you're good to | | | | special equipment. |
| go. This is not an approach to curing your low back | | | | - It's important that you don't let fear of pain keep |
| pain, this is only masking the pain til later. | | | | you from trying gentle activity. You should try to be |
| - Low back pain is very common among adults and is | | | | active soon after noticing pain, and gradually increase |
| often caused by overuse and muscle strain or injury. | | | | your activity level.1 Too little activity can lead to loss |
| Treatment can help you stay as active as possible, | | | | of flexibility, strength, and endurance, and then to |
| and it will help you understand that some continued | | | | more pain. |
| or repeated back pain is not surprising or dangerous. | | | | I'm a firm believer in "fixing it", and this it being your |
| - Most low back pain can get better if you stay | | | | lower back. And I am not referring to surgery. |
| active, avoid positions and activities that may | | | | Surgery is your LAST RESORT, and hopefully you |
| increase or cause back pain, use ice, and take | | | | never choose it as there is no guarantee by the |
| nonprescription pain relievers when you need them. | | | | surgeon that you will be pain-free, and worse yet, |
| - When you no longer have acute pain, you may be | | | | you will lose a considerable amount of mobility |
| ready for gentle strengthening exercises for your | | | | because typically they fuse several vertebrae |
| stomach, back, and legs, and perhaps for some | | | | together. |
| stretching exercises. Exercise may not only help | | | | There are several simple low back exercises I do |
| decrease low back pain, but it may also help you | | | | everyday that relieve some pressure in my lower |
| recover faster, prevent reinjury to your back, and | | | | back, but I am currently involved in a complete lower |
| reduce the risk of disability from back pain. | | | | back program I'll talk about it a minute. |