When it comes to alleviating back pain, exercise can do wonders. Not only does it strengthen your spine but it also boosts your mood and improves your overall health, setting you up for chronic pain relief. According to Twin Cities’ iSpine Pain Physicians, however, not all sports carry these benefits. In fact, their chronic pain management specialists explain, some may even exacerbate your symptoms.   

5 Sports that Worsen Back Pain

1. Jogging

Running is a stress reliever for the mind but a stress inducer for your joints. Even if you’re using a treadmill, jogging causes your feet to repetitively slam against the ground, wearing down the structures in your knees, hips and spine.

1. Gymnastics

Rebounder trampolines are a great alternative to jogging. They minimize spinal impact while still providing a high-intensity workout. Traditional gymnastics, on the other hand, put pressure on the bones, ligaments, and discs in your spine, often causing additional back pain.

1. Tennis

Although you’re not running down a track or jumping on a trampoline, tennis has its own set of high impact movements like twisting, stretching, and lunging. Thus, this sport is known for straining the back.

1. Dancing

Dancing isn’t always high-impact. In fact, some types will keep you limber and flexible while you break a sweat. Ballroom dancing, in particular, will improve your posture and strengthen your core muscles. Styles like swing and jive, however, require significant twisting and can harm your chronic pain relief efforts.

1. Golf

While it’s a favorite amongst iSpine’s chronic pain management specialists, golf can aggravate one’s back pain. Like the activities listed above, this sport requires a considerable amount of twisting, often damaging the discs and facet joints in your spine.

If you suffer from severe back pain and practice any of the above sports, you may want to modify your workout. Activities like walking, yoga and water aerobics, for example, are low impact but not necessarily low intensity. Thus, they’ll help you stay in shape without aggravating your condition.

It’s important to note that you should always consult a medical professional before starting a new fitness regimen. So before you hit the gym, call iSpine Pain Physicians at (763) 201-8191 today. To meet their board-certified back pain specialists or learn more about their chronic pain relief services, visit their website.