Exercises to Avoid With a Cervical Herniated Disc

You may know it as a ruptured disc or a slipped disc. Maybe you call it a herniated disc. But whatever name you give it, it's painful. A herniated disc occurs when a disc located between two bones on your spine presses against the nerves of your backbone. Fortunately, herniated discs usually heal without surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. One way to this recovery is through exercise. But there are certain exercises that no one suffering from a herniated disc should take on.

Doing More Damage

• Both the Mayo Clinic and the American Orthopaedic Association recommend that people suffering from a herniated disc rely on exercise to strengthen their back muscles and ease the pain associated with the condition. But if people do the wrong exercises, they can cause even more damage to their back. This will only increase their levels of pain.

  That's why both the Mayo Clinic and the American Orthopaedic Association recommend that people first meet with their doctors to develop the exercise program that will best address their back pain without making their condition even worse. Doctors may send patients to a physical therapist, who can work with these patients to develop an appropriate schedule of stretching, cardiovascular and strength-building exercises.

Exercises to Avoid

• People suffering from a herniated disc should be extremely careful when lifting weights. By lifting too much weight, they can place too much stress on their back muscles. Patients should instead focus on lifting lighter weights. They should also avoid squats, which place a great amount of strain on the back, and any low-back extension exercises.

  Most forms of stretching are safe. But people suffering from a herniated disc should be careful not to twist their back too severely. This, too, can aggravate an aching back.

  The vast majority of cardiovascular exercises are safe, too. However, it's best for people with herniated discs to concentrate on low-impact cardiovascular exercises. Running or jogging might be too jarring for people with herniated discs, and might increase the amount of pain they are experiencing.

Warning signs

• An exercise routine should never leave people in severe pain. This is especially true for people suffering from a herniated disc. Any person experiencing pain should immediately stop exercising. If the pain persists, call a doctor.

  Those suffering from herniated discs should rely on exercise to rehab their backs. But they must exercise caution, too. Overworking their back muscles might worsen their pain or discomfort.