Physical Therapy for a Herniated Lumbar Disc

A herniated disc is sometimes referred to as a slipped or ruptured disc, and it can cause shooting pain down your back to your leg. The spine is comprised of bones and vertebrae, and in between them is cartilage. When a disc is herniated, part of the cartilage gets pushed out, which can cause pain, numbness or weakness in legs, back or arms. Treatment for a herniated lumbar disc usually requires physical therapy, and surgery is not normally needed.

Physical Therapy

• Physical therapy exercises can be beneficial for a herniated lumbar disc. A physical therapist can apply heat, ice, ultrasound and electrical stimulation to alleviate pain. Physical therapists can show you positions and exercises to ease the pain. Once the pain improves, you can usually move on to a rehabilitation program that develops core body strength and helps prevent future injury. Apply a cold pack when pain begins; this also lessens inflammation. After the first few days, use a heat pack to aid in relief.

Personalized hernitated disc exercises

• Be careful which exercise you practice with a herniated disc, and take advice from your physician or physical therapist. A herniated disc is a serious condition and you want to be careful you do the right exercise and not make the pain worse. The cause of the herniated disc will dictate which exercise needs to be completed. Every herniated disc is different, and your physical therapist can help you design an exercise regime for your specific injury.

Modified Activity

• Limit activities, such as bending, lifting or extended sitting, that irritate your symptoms. Maintain occasional physical activity, such as physical therapy, to strengthen muscles and increase flexibility. You should not avoid physical activity altogether, but you might have to alter your routine a bit. Your doctor or physical therapist can help you determine the adequate workload for your condition. Start light and work your way up to increasing your activity. Severe back pain might require a day or two of back rest. It could take four to six weeks for your condition to improve.

Good Herniated Disc Exercises

• Good exercises for your herniated disc can help you on the road to recovery. All of the exercises you can do will help take pressure off the herniated disc and get oxygen to it. A combination of balance and stretching exercises can help alleviate the pain.

  Balance exercises can release the load the herniated disc carries by activating the muscles around the area. Stretching exercises can relax the muscles around the disc and increase flexibility. Strengthening exercises can increase muscles' strength in the back and around the herniated disc to help take pressure off.

  Spinal extension exercises consist of lying down on your stomach and elbows or on your hands with your arms straight for two minutes, then relaxing. This makes the lower back curve, which makes the disc separate from the nerves.

  Bouncing exercises are up-and-down movements that help get oxygen to the discs.

  These exercise should be done regularly on the advice of a physical therapist.