Home Exercise Program

Description

Independence is an important part of anyone’s life. You will work closely with your doctor to complete a treatment plan. At some point, the doctor will transition you into a home exercise program. Depending on the severity of the injury and extent of damage to your tissues, this may start very soon or occur later in the treatment program. It will not be started until the doctor feels that it is safe for you to do some unsupervised exercise. Exercises that will increase your flexibility, strength and balance are a natural progression to giving you an independent life. Strength and flexibility gains made during organized physical activity may be quickly lost if activity is not maintained.

Conditions Treated

A home exercise program is applicable to almost all back and neck pain conditions.

What Does a Home Exercise Program Involve?

  • The basics of a home exercise program are stretching and strengthening.
    • For patients with back and/or neck pain, the primary target area is the trunk of the body including muscles in the back, abdominals and shoulder regions.
    • Walking, swimming or working out in a pool, and working with handheld weights, bands, balls and steps can all be beneficial.
    • Working out in a gym is also good.
  • Exercise is not only good for overall general health, but maintaining strength and flexibility may help prevent injury and future bouts of back pain.
  • As with any exercise program, compliance is key — it is easy to learn the exercises and hard to keep doing them.