How To Manage Back Pain With Limited Mobility

Back pain can be difficult to treat, and it only becomes harder when the spine issue or other health concerns are causing mobility restrictions. We always prefer to default to proactive treatment interventions, but it’s not always easy to recommend movement-based treatments when mobility is significantly restricted. So how can you work to manage your spine pain if you’re suffering from limited mobility? Dr. Sinicropi and his team answer that question below.

Treating Back Pain When Dealing With Movement Restrictions

As we always say, this is just general advice, and you’ll be better off following the specific advice of your treating physician. If your mobility is supremely hampered as a result of your spinal condition, perhaps an extended rest period is in your best interests. That being said, it’s rare that you’ll make the best recovery by laying in bed all day. Even if movement is restricted or limited, it’s likely wise to try and find some ways to incorporate movement and exercise into your regular routine. Here’s what we recommend:

• Pursue Appropriate Exercise – We don’t expect you to run a marathon if movement is severely restricted, but it will likely be in your best interest to try and pursue some appropriate exercises on a regular basis. Even if that just means getting outside and walking around the block, your spine and your body will be better because of it. Shying away from exercise and activity will only lead to continued muscle weakening and issues like spinal instability. Challenge yourself to seek out exercises that you can pursue even while dealing with back pain and limited movement, and see if you can gradually push yourself to seek out more significant physical activity as your body gets used to the exercise. This will help to strengthen your muscles, stabilize your spine and push oxygen-rich blood to key areas of your spine.
• Physical Therapy – Physical therapy is perfect for patients dealing with unique challenges like mobility restrictions. Every single PT session is tailored to your specific strengths and deficits, so you’re going to be put through a routine that is curated to you. Your physical therapist will assess and consider your mobility restrictions when developing your routine so that you can get the most out of your session. Instead of trusting PT exercises that you find online that are created for the masses, seek out the help of a physical therapist who can develop a routine that accounts for your unique mobility restrictions.
• Stretching – Work to expand your range of motion or at least maintain your current mobility with the help of a stretching routine. Your doctor or your physical therapist can help set you up with a basic stretching routine that you can perform a few times a day to stay loose and limber. Make time throughout the day to do these exercises, and you may soon notice that your mobility feels less restricted.
• Posture Awareness – Oftentimes our back pain and our mobility restrictions are tied in part to poor posture habits that we’ve picked up over the years. If you’re regularly slouching at your desk or sitting on an unsupportive couch for hours, you may find that both back pain and mobility improves when you take better care of your posture. Perform regular posture checks throughout the day and get in the habit of making simple adjustments to your posture when you notice you’re out of a healthy alignment.

While rest and pain medications may also play a crucial role in your quest to overcome back pain that may or may not be tied to mobility restrictions, we think you’ll find more success by pursuing these more active interventions. However, your personal doctor who can view your body and imaging results in person will have the best advice for your specific situation.

For more information on how you can work to overcome back pain and mobility restrictions, consider connecting with Dr. Sinicorpi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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