Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Staying active and getting regular exercise is incredibly important if you are working to overcome a back pain issue or you simply want to prevent some common spinal problems from developing. That said, you want to be smart about the sports and activities you pursue if you have certain back issues that could worsen with direct or high-impact trauma. There are aplenty of ways you can stay active and participate in the sports you enjoy without increasing your risk of worsening back pain. Below, we explore five sports you may want to avoid if you have back pain.
Athletic Activities That Can Worsen Back Problems
We’re not saying that you need to steer clear of these activities for the rest of your life, but you may want to consider other pursuits while you work to overcome your current back pain issue. Jumping into these activities can cause certain back problems to worsen. At a minimum, have a conversation with your back pain specialist about the best way to pursue these activities while working to overcome your spine problem. Here are five sports that can be hard on your spine and make certain conditions worse:
- Running – Running is wonderful for your whole body health, but it’s certainly harder on some areas of your body than others. Your feet and spine are two areas that are under heavy stress when you’re running, and if you’re already battling low back pain or a degenerative spinal condition, this high-impact activity can cause symptoms to intensify. Walking or a more vigorous workout on an elliptical can help you get a similar form of exercise without such a heavy impact on your spine.
- Golf – Golf may seem like a leisurely no-contact sport, but it asks a lot of your spine. You’re twisting and torquing your spine with every swing, and that can put added stress on your spine discs or key spinal nerves. Work to make sure a back problem is truly in the past before you hit the links with regular frequency.
- Tennis – Tennis is very similar to golf in that it requires frequent twisting and torquing of your spine as you move across the court and strike the ball. Again, many people think because there is no physical contact in tennis that it isn’t very hard on their spine, but that’s simply not true. Racquet sports like tennis and Pickleball can cause problems for people with pre-existing back injuries, so try to treat any lingering issues before hitting the court.
- Basketball – Basketball is another sport that can overstress your spine. Running up and down a hard court will send shockwaves up your spine with every step you take, and that doesn’t even account for the twisting, jumping and bending that oftentimes accompanies the sport. Basketball also tends to be more physical than other sports on this list, so that contact you absorb when playing can exacerbate lingering back pain symptoms.
- Rowing, Kayaking and Canoeing – Taking your kayak or canoe on a trip around the lake can be an enjoyable experience, but it can also be hard on your back. Being in a seated position for an extended period while constantly using your spine and arms to propel yourself across the water will take a toll on your spine. As is the case with all the activities on this list, if you’re dead set on pursuing it despite your back pain, ease into the activity and gradually increase your speed or distance so as to reduce your risk of overloading your spine when rowing.
Contact Dr. Sinicropi Today
We’d love to help you get back to safely pursuing all of the sports on this list, so take the first step in overcoming your back pain by syncing up with a spine specialist. Dr. Sinicropi and his team will work to diagnose your condition and set you up with an individualized treatment plan. For more information, or to set up your first appointment, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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