On-Site Lab Tests with no Appointments

Same Day Appointments!

We Now Offer COVID-19 Rapid Testing

En Espanol
En Nuestras Clinicas Ablamos Espanol!

Schedule an Appointment
Call us Today!
  • Same Day Appointments
  • Open Saturdays
  • Walk-Ins Welcome
  • Most Plans & AHCCCS Accepted
  • Cold & Flu Clinic
  • Full Service Family Clinic
  • No-Insurance Clinic
  • Affordable & Accessible Medical Care
The Women's Health Institute at Phoenix Family Medical Clinic
  • Offering Telemedicine Appointments
  • Same Day Appointments
  • Open Saturdays
  • AHCCCS OK
  • Walk-ins Welcome

Should You Exercise While Suffering From Lower Back Pain?

Woman stops before jogging with lower back pain

Are you suffering from a condition like spinal stenosis or lumbar herniated disc? All these are conditions related to back pain when your physician may suggest exercise as a component of the overall treatment procedure. However, what should be your plan of action when exercising deteriorates your back condition?


How to distinguish between back pain and a sore back


Prior to discussing the effectiveness of exercising while you suffer from back pain you need to distinguish between your lower back pain and a sore back. Very often, a mild soreness can be an outcome of the exercise. It is even more prevalent in those people who have not exercised earlier.
You realize you have a sore back when you experience a dull feeling of ache. Plus, your muscles at the back may feel rigid or tender. You should know that when you have a sore back due to exercise, it usually goes away within one to three days.


In comparison, when you suffer from an injury in your lower back, your body is trying to give you a hint that something is not going quite right. Such a pain is usually moderate but It can also be severe. The magnitude may become so high that it can even restrict your routine functions on a daily basis. Hence, you may even have to end up adjusting your daily routine when you experience a pain in your lower back after exercise.


Is it recommended to exercise even when you experience back pain?


When you observe that a specific exercise is aggravating your back pain, it is better to stop doing that exercise. The reason is as mentioned earlier, pain is a way of intimating your body that you may not be doing something right. Hence, your pain is a way of intimating you any or all of the following:

1. You could be having another lower back condition of injury you are ignorant of
2. The particular exercise you are doing may not be suitable for your lower back due to its prevailing condition
3. You are not doing the exercise in a right way


Hence, the moment you feel pain while exercising, stop doing it immediately without much delay. Your next step should be to fix an appointment the same day with a good physician and consult him/her. The idea is to review your exercise program based on your exact symptoms.


Alternatives To exercise


If it is an issue related to your lower back pain due to an exercise, you need not walk through your pain. For instance, when you find that running is aggravating your back condition, it is better to replace this physical activity by opting for any kind of low-impact exercise like riding your exercise bike. A good physical therapist or physician may assist you to find a good alternative to the exercise that is causing you trouble at present. You can also consider undergoing water therapy after consulting your doctor. It is an effective choice for several people who suffer from back pain due to exercise. The therapy can alleviate the strain and stress on the lower back structures of an affected person. You may also perform it in a heated swimming pool to enjoy additional relief from your pain.

When your lower back pain flares up, simply book an appointment at Phoenix Family Medical Clinic , and allow our board-certified family providers to assess and provide relief for your chronic back pain.