Physiotherapy can work wonders

The Importance of Movement

The spine is kept alive by movement. If we break it down into parts, we can see that every piece needs movement. The intervertebral discs between the vertebrae operate on the sponge principle. They compress under load and refill when unloaded. They can only maintain their elasticity if we regularly load and rest them through movement. The muscles and ligaments that stabilize the spine will only be strong, flexible, and stretchable if we train, stretch, and thus keep them in motion.

Young woman with an exercise mat preparing for physiotherapy, which can help manage spinal complaints

Physical therapy for lumbago cases

  • Why physiotherapy?

Exercise is suitable both as prevention and for reducing or eliminating pain caused by already developed lumbago. If we suffer from any spinal disease, it is worth seeking the help of a physiotherapist, who assists our recovery with personalized exercises. This requires perseverance and patience, but its effects can be felt even day by day.

  • What exercises are recommended in case of lumbago?

The best exercise for the spine is almost always stretching: consciously stretching upwards with the crown of the head and downwards with the tailbone. This can be done in various positions (standing, prone, lying on the side or back, kneeling), and stretching with the same or opposite side limbs is also very effective. It is important to regularly stretch the muscles prone to shortening, such as the pectoral muscles or the iliopsoas muscle, as these shorten due to prolonged sitting or forward shoulders. If this is persistent, the shortened muscles hinder the restoration of the spine's physiological posture. The same applies to muscles prone to lengthening, such as the muscles responsible for scapular closure and the gluteal muscles, whose strengthening is also very important for adopting a healthy posture.

  • From whom can we seek help?

Physiotherapists, as well as well-trained fitness trainers and yoga instructors, can provide assistance in recommending suitable forms of exercise and which exercises can be done at home to keep our spine in good condition. Both for preventing lumbago and during recovery, and afterwards, it is important to pay attention to the correct posture and stretching of the spine during movement and static positions (e.g., sitting at work, at home, in the car).