San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:
I guess if you know you have a herniated disc in your low back...or in your neck...you had an MRI at some point. Actually, x-rays and positive orthopedic tests for disc pathology are usually a pretty reliable indicator also. Either way...you had some sort of episode of low back or neck pain, that was diagnosed as a herniated disc. So now what?
Well...most of the time the back pain or neck pain resolves with conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, physical therapy, or medications. We treat many patients (that lift weights) with herniated discs at Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco. Most of the time we are successful with treatment outcomes.
But what about the disc herniation...it's still there...can I lift weights?
Probably (see a good chiropractor)...as long as you are careful not to do exercises that could put too much stress on the herniated disc. If your disc herniation is in the low back...I would avoid squats, presses behind neck, and low back extensions...and I would be careful with everything else. avoid exercises that cause pain.
If you have a herniated disc in the neck...I would avoid presses behind neck, heavy shoulder presses, and neck extensions with weights. Go nice and easy with everything else. Use lots of dumbbells and cables.
Sit-ups are OK with really good form...no pulling on the neck...nice and slow...squeeze the abs on each rep. A strong abdominal region and core will help stabilize the low back...and neck.
San Francisco Chiropractor and Herniated Disc Doctor Comments:
Well...most of the time the back pain or neck pain resolves with conservative treatment, such as chiropractic, physical therapy, or medications. We treat many patients (that lift weights) with herniated discs at Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco. Most of the time we are successful with treatment outcomes.
But what about the disc herniation...it's still there...can I lift weights?
Probably (see a good chiropractor)...as long as you are careful not to do exercises that could put too much stress on the herniated disc. If your disc herniation is in the low back...I would avoid squats, presses behind neck, and low back extensions...and I would be careful with everything else. avoid exercises that cause pain.
If you have a herniated disc in the neck...I would avoid presses behind neck, heavy shoulder presses, and neck extensions with weights. Go nice and easy with everything else. Use lots of dumbbells and cables.
Sit-ups are OK with really good form...no pulling on the neck...nice and slow...squeeze the abs on each rep. A strong abdominal region and core will help stabilize the low back...and neck.