Walking for back pain is a safe and effective treatment that almost anyone can do. Walking is a good way for sedentary people to slowly become more active, despite their pain. Walking is an especially good form of back exercise therapy for pregnant women, the elderly or overweight and obese people. Of all forms of exercise, walking is truly one of the most flexible, universal and easy to do, anywhere and anytime. Walking can be accomplished out in the world, in a shopping mall, on a treadmill or even simply around your home. As an avid walker, I recommend this fitness activity as a good form of healthy exercise, as well as a satisfying addition to a full and happy lifestyle.
This guide provides a comprehensive view of walking when it used as a therapeutic activity towards providing relief from pain.
Walking Therapy for Back Pain
The type of walking mentioned here is not walking from the couch to the refrigerator. Walking for back pain relief must be vigorous and hearty. The pace should start out slowly to warm up, but steadily build with time and practice. The idea of walking is to increase the heart rate and therefore increase the circulation to the painful back muscles.
Many people feel the need to jog or run after walking for some time. This is fine, but not at all necessary. Walking briskly and for a long enough time period is great exercise unto itself. Walking is a great activity to do with others and can provide layered benefits from performed as a group form of physical fitness.
Walking for Back Pain Tips
It is important to find a good safe place to walk. Running tracks, boardwalks, beaches or even shopping malls are excellent places to get a good walking workout. Do not walk on busy roads or alone in remote areas.
Comfortable and supportive shoes should always be worn to prevent foot problems or spinal shock from occurring.
Make sure to drink lots of water to stay hydrated, particularly in hot, humid climates or when walking under the daytime sun.
Push yourself to increase your speed and distance slowly, but steadily. Do not become complacent on distance or pace until you reach high levels of fitness.
Never doubt the efficacy of a brisk walk for health benefits. If you walk for 30 to 60 minutes at a pace fast enough to elevate your heart rate to aerobic levels, your body will transform itself with time into a beautiful and efficient machine.
Combine this activity with a sensible diet and you can maintain great health and wellbeing for life.
If you have increased pain walking, their may be specific explanations as to why this occurs. Learn more about the potential causes of back pain from walking.
How Does Walking Help Back Pain?
Walking is a natural way to strengthen the lower back postural muscles. Walking will also increase blood circulation to affected back, buttock and leg muscles. Increased circulation will provide more oxygen and decrease waste products in the muscles. This increased circulation will provide temporary relief from oxygen deprivation back pain.
Walking also helps to stretch stiff and tight muscles in the back and legs. Most importantly, walking, like any form of regular exercise, will provide systemic benefits to virtually all of the body’s many systems, improving overall health and fitness capacity.
Walking for Back Pain Lifestyle
Walking is a great starting place for a back pain exercise program. It does not require any special equipment, nor any ongoing therapy costs.
Walking, like all exercise programs, will benefit certain types of back problems more than others. Some types of back ache will not receive any relief from exercise. Muscular back pain will receive the greatest benefit from any exercise program.
I have used walking as an exercise for many years. Running was a little hard on my joints, especially as I got past 30. I can no longer run without pain, so walking is great for me.
I also find that walking is a nice activity for people to do together. It is quality time to talk and share experiences. I treasure the time I have to spend walking with my family and especially love walking along the beach at the water-line with my wife. You can find us out there almost every evening in the summer.
Walking for back pain is certainly not a magic cure. It is a great activity for everyone to increase their general health. If you suffer from muscular back pain, you might just find that walking may be a valuable part of your back pain cure. If not, at least you will be doing something good for your body and may even enjoy the active meditation of the walk, as well.
