Answer:
Dear
Nicole,
Yoga
has made a huge difference for a lot of people, in fact it's the only
thing some people is doing to maintain a healthy back.
Patients
who have degenerative discs in the lumbar spine can aid themselves
by losing weight, building the back and stomach muscles through an
exercise program, swimming, yoga and pilates, and other core strengthening
programs.
Some
doctors recommend yoga for back problems.
Yoga
will not rebuild the back or reverse degenerative disc disease as
commonly promised.
Aerobics
(low impact) offers many benefits including improved muscular endurance,
coordination, strength, strong abdominal muscles, and weight loss.
Strong abdominal muscles work like a brace (or corset) to reduce the
loads to the lumbar spine.
It is
also known that aerobics help to combat anxiety and depression. The
loads on the discs during walking are only slightly greater than when
lying down. Walking, bicycling, and swimming are forms of aerobic
exercise a physician may suggest.
Once
the initial exercises are introduced and prove to be safe and effective
(usually about 7-10 days into it), aerobic exercise, such as running,
aerobics, cycling, weight lifting, etc., can be introduced. Start
slowly and add in small increments. If and when any symptoms come
on, you're going too quickly and must back off for a couple days.
Never ignore what your back is telling you.
Spinning,
an aerobic exercise that takes place on a specially designed stationary
bicycle called a spinning bike is probably with swimming ( Backstroke
style) one of the best exercise for degenerative disc disease.
