Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy

Active Therapies

In order to fully rehabilitate the spine, our physical therapists may suggest active therapies, or exercise programs, that include a combination of:

• Stretching. Low back pain is associated with tight hamstring muscles. People who suffer from lower back pain should stretch their hamstring muscles once or twice a day for 30-45 seconds at a time. The hamstring muscle may be stretched in several different ways, from most difficult to least difficult. For options on hamstring stretching

• Strengthening. To strengthen back muscles, the two most commonly prescribed exercises are McKenzie or lumbar stabilization exercises. Patients should do 15-20 minutes of exercising, every other day. More information on strengthening exercises

• Low-impact aerobic conditioning.Low impact aerobics (such as walking, bicycling, or swimming) should be done for 30-40 minutes three times a week, on alternate days from the strengthening exercises. Tips for aerobic exercise