You have lower back pain, your MRI shows a herniated disc, and naturally you think, “There’s the problem.” But when it comes to back pain, it’s not always that simple.
A disc herniation can certainly cause pain, especially when it irritates or compresses a nerve. However, disc bulges and herniations can also be found in people who have little or no pain at all. This is why an MRI finding should be considered alongside your symptoms, physical examination, and how your body moves and functions.
What Else Could Be Causing Your Pain?
The lower back is a complex area made up of many different structures. Pain can potentially come from or be influenced by the facet joints, sacroiliac (SI) joints, muscles, ligaments, discs, or irritated nerves. Sometimes several of these factors are involved at the same time.
Your biomechanics can also play an important role. Limited spinal or hip mobility, decreased core control, muscle weakness, repetitive movements, prolonged sitting, or the way you load your spine during exercise and everyday activities may all contribute to your symptoms.
That’s why we don’t want to simply look at an MRI and treat the image. We want to evaluate the person as a whole—where the pain is located, what movements make it better or worse, strength and mobility, neurological findings, and how the body moves during everyday and athletic activities.
3 Exercises to Improve Lower Back Movement & Function
1. Reverse Hypers
Reverse hypers target the glutes, hamstrings, and muscles surrounding the lower back. When performed appropriately and with control, they can help build strength and improve the ability of the hips and posterior chain to tolerate load.
2. Side Glides
Side glides introduce controlled lateral movement through the lower back and pelvis. For certain patients, this movement can help improve mobility and may be useful when symptoms respond favorably to movement in a particular direction.
3. Spine CARs
Spine CARs, or Controlled Articular Rotations, take the spine through slow, controlled ranges of motion. The goal is to improve awareness and control of spinal movement while exploring flexion, extension, rotation, and side bending within a comfortable range.
Treat the Patient, Not Just the MRI
An MRI is an extremely useful diagnostic tool, but it is only one piece of the puzzle. Finding a herniated disc does not automatically mean it is the sole source of your pain.
A thorough examination can help determine which structures and movement patterns may be contributing to your symptoms and allow treatment and rehabilitation to be tailored to your individual needs.
At New Path Chiropractic – Wellness & Sports Rehab, our goal is to look beyond the imaging, determine what may be contributing to your pain, and develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan designed to help you move better, feel better, and get back to the activities you enjoy.
These exercises are general examples and may not be appropriate for every type of lower back pain or disc injury. If an exercise increases pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or symptoms into the leg, stop and seek an appropriate evaluation.
Dr. Steve Muscari
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