Exercise

Exercise is one of the most significant ways we can increase our longevity, improve our health, and decrease our pain and suffering. Proper exercise can improve flexibility, increase strength, and even reduce back pain. Knowing the best exercises to improve your health or decrease your pain is essential to a workout plan or a pain management program.

Posterior view of the lumbar spine showing the ligamentum flavum.

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Back Strengthening Exercises After Microdiscectomy Surgery

About 2 to 3 weeks after lumbar microdiscectomy surgery, when soft tissues have healed, some patients may be advised to begin back strengthening exercises.

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Beginning Exercise Program on an Exercise Ball

Beginning an exercise program with an exercise ball should begin with stretches and learning simple exercise ball routines.

Woman doing a back bend over a large exercise ball

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Choosing the Right Exercise Ball

Explore several guidelines to use when selecting the proper exercise ball size. Effectively performing exercise ball activities requires careful selection of the right exercise ball size.

Woman doing the levator scapulae stretch

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Daily Exercises and Stretches to Prevent Neck Pain

The chin tuck, levator scapulae stretch, and chest stretch can be performed daily in order to counteract poor posture and reduce neck pain.

Woman performing the corner stretch for neck pain

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Easy Chest Stretches for Neck Pain

Stretching the chest muscles helps to keep the shoulders and head upright and in good posture and alleviate stress on the cervical spine.

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Easy Chin Tucks for Neck Pain

The chin tuck exercise can be performed daily to help keep the head aligned above the spine. The exercise can help to reduce neck pain by strengthening and stretching the neck muscles.

Woman lying on the floor doing the piriformis stretch

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Easy Exercise Program for Low Back Pain Relief

Regular exercise now can often help prevent debilitating low back pain in the future. The key is devising and consistently following an exercise program

Woman lying on the floor doing a wall hamstring stretch with a couch.

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Easy Hamstring Stretches

Learn three easy hamstring stretches for sciatica pain relief: The towel hamstring stretch, the wall hamstring stretch, and the seated hamstring stretch.

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Easy Levator Scapulae Stretch for Neck Pain

The levator scapulae stretch can be used to alleviate neck pain and stiffness that results from a neck strain. The stretch targets the levator scapulae muscle, which runs down the side of the neck and into the shoulder.

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Elliptical Trainer

An elliptical trainer (sometimes called a cross trainer) is an exercise machine that simulates a number of aerobic exercises, including walking or running, stair-stepping, or cross-country skiing.