Exercise Therapy For Osteochondrosis Of The Lumbar Spine: A Set Of Exercises With Video

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 19:51

Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

The content of the article:

The tasks of physiotherapy exercises for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
Basic exercises
The rules for performing therapeutic physical exercises
Restrictions on exercise therapy
Varieties of exercise therapy
Video

Physiotherapy exercises, or exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine is the main method of conservative treatment. Classes on special rehabilitation equipment, articular gymnastics can improve blood circulation, normalize metabolism and nutrition of intervertebral discs, expand the space between the vertebrae, form and strengthen the muscle corset. Reducing the load on the spine allows you to eliminate the clinical manifestations of the disease, to avoid dangerous complications.

With osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, exercise therapy is one of the main methods of treatment

The tasks of physiotherapy exercises for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine

Specially selected dosed loads for degenerative processes of the cartilaginous tissue of intervertebral discs allow:

reduce compression of the nerve roots;
strengthen the muscles of the back and lower back;
improve blood and lymph circulation in the lumbar and sacral spine;
increase the range of motion;
develop a certain motor stereotype;
correct posture;
give the ligaments and muscles the necessary flexibility;
prevent disc protrusion and the formation of intervertebral hernias;
normalize weight by eliminating excessive stress on the spine.

Therapeutic exercises for osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine are usually combined with physiotherapy procedures and massage.

Basic exercises

The set of exercises varies depending on the stage of the disease and the severity of the process.

The nature of the process	Execution rules	Basic exercises
Acute process	Gymnastics is performed in the supine position, very carefully, the movements should be smooth. An increase, even a slight one, of pain is a signal to stop exercising. The supervision of a doctor or instructor is required. Perform movements 7-10 times, breathing is even, free.	Lie straight, feet and hands bend and unbend, first together, then alternately, gradually accelerating the pace of movements.
		Bend both legs at the knee joint, leave one in a bent position, and slowly unbend the other, smoothly sliding the heel over the rug or bed, then slowly return it to its original position. Repeat for the other leg.
		Raise one hand as high as possible and return it to its original position - extended along the body. Then repeat the exercise for the other hand.
		Bend one leg at the knee, and slowly move the other to the side, without lifting it from the mat, then return it to its original position. The abduction should be done carefully, avoiding the increase in pain. Repeat for the other leg.
		Bend both arms at the elbow, the hand is in the area of the shoulder joint, make rotational movements with the hands first clockwise, then in the opposite direction.
		Put a towel roller under the thighs, bend and unbend the knees alternately.
		While inhaling, with your right hand, touch the lateral surface of the thigh, bend at the elbow, touch the shoulder - exhale. Repeat the movements with the left hand.
		Bend both legs at the knee joints, alternately take the knees to the sides to the maximum possible position, prevent the intensification of symptoms (pain in the lower back, sacrum).
		Gently raise both arms above your head, stretch for 1-2 seconds, socks on yourself, lower your arms along the body, relax.
		Carefully, alternately, pull your legs, bent at the knees, to your stomach, helping with your hands, without straining your abdominal muscles too much.
Subacute process	Starting position - lying on your back on a firm surface. To start classes with exercises for the acute period, repeating them 4-5 times is a warm-up. Then dynamically perform the complex for the subacute period. The number of repetitions is from 5 to 10, focus on sensations.	Bend both legs at the knees, straighten one leg, lifting it up. If pain appears, then do not straighten it completely, return it to its original position. Repeat for the other leg.
		Raise the upper body, leaning on your arms bent at the elbows, gently bend the spine in the thoracic region, then return to the starting position and relax.
		Bend both legs at the knee joints, slowly bend in the lower back, without lifting the buttocks from the horizontal surface. Prevent pain from appearing.
		Bend both legs at the knees, raise your head, parallel straining the muscles of the abdomen and buttocks.
		Tighten and relax the gluteal muscles. Movements are carried out rhythmically, at the highest possible pace.
		Bend your legs at the knee joint alternately. When straightening the limb, apply pressure with the foot on the surface of the gymnastic mat, while it is necessary to bend a little in the lower back.
Process in remission	Perform movements dynamically, but smoothly, avoiding jerks and discomfort in the lumbar spine. Multiplicity: 8-10 times.	The starting position is on the side. Bending the upper leg at the knee, pull it up to the stomach as much as possible. Turn to the opposite side, repeat the movements with the other leg.
		The starting position is knee-elbow. On all fours, carefully crawl over an imaginary obstacle.
		Starting position as in the previous exercise. Bend your back while lowering your head down, return to its original position.
		Sit on a flat, hard surface, hands on your knees. Slowly bend back, but do not lie down, keep the abdominal muscles in tension, hold for 4-5 seconds, and then slowly return to the starting position, exhale, relax.
		Starting position: on all fours. Alternately raise the legs bent at the knee joint, while bending in the lower back.
		Starting position: sitting on the floor with outstretched legs. Lean forward, trying to reach your toes with your fingers.
		Starting position: standing with arms outstretched along the body. Bend forward, trying to touch the floor with your fingertips.
		Starting position: sitting on the legs, bent at the knees, buttocks on the heels. Stretch your arms up, clasp your hands into the lock. Sit down alternately with the buttocks on one side and the other.
		Starting position: knee-elbow. Raise the right hand simultaneously with the left leg, fix the position for 4-5 seconds, then repeat the exercise for the left arm and right leg.

A sick person can perform these simple exercises at home. They will be effective if certain rules are followed.

The rules for performing therapeutic physical exercises

To achieve the desired result, you must:

perform exercises of the gymnastic complex regularly;
do not exercise immediately after eating;
prevent the appearance or intensification of pain;
to carry out movements smoothly, without jerks, but at a certain pace, leveling breathing;
do not change the sequence of exercises in the complex yourself;
conduct classes in comfortable sportswear made from natural fabrics;
do gymnastics in a well-ventilated area;
combine the complex with other methods of treatment;
conduct the first classes under the supervision of a specialist.

Classes, at least at the beginning of the course, must be supervised by a specialist

Between exercises, you can hang on the horizontal bar within a minute, tucking your legs in. For training, the horizontal bar should be of such a height that you can reach it, and not jump. This position reduces disc compression and promotes correct posture.

Restrictions on exercise therapy

Therapeutic exercises can be performed at any stage of dystrophic changes in the intervertebral discs, only a set of exercises must be specially selected for each period of the disease. When drawing up a training program, the doctor must take into account the concomitant pathology.

Gymnastics should not be done if there is:

severe pain syndrome;
compression of the spinal cord by intervertebral hernia;
pathological mobility of the vertebrae;
inflammatory process in the tissues surrounding the spinal column;
acute viral or bacterial infection;
high blood pressure;
malignant tumor of the spine.

Patients with heart and respiratory failure, heart rhythm disturbances, who have recently had a heart attack or stroke, need to start classes only with the permission of a specialist and under his supervision. It is advisable to do this in the exercise therapy office of a medical institution, so that in case of deterioration of the condition, it is possible to provide the patient with the necessary medical assistance in a qualified and prompt manner.

Varieties of exercise therapy

Therapeutic physical training is an important section of clinical medicine. Its effectiveness is significantly increased if it is carried out in combination with drug therapy, physiotherapy, massage, traction methods.

In the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, you can combine various forms of physiotherapy exercises: morning hygienic gymnastics, remedial gymnastics, walking, classes on special therapeutic simulators, exercises in the water. The combination of various forms and remedies of exercise therapy is selected by a specialist.