Claire - what exercise equipment do you recommend?
Options
dth2m5
Community member Posts: 11 Listener
What kind of exercise equipment do you recommend for someone with sciatica and general back chronic pain?
We have been thinking of a vibrating foam roller for back stretch/massage, exercise bands, and maybe a roman exercise chair.
Thoughts?
Thank you so much!
Doug
We have been thinking of a vibrating foam roller for back stretch/massage, exercise bands, and maybe a roman exercise chair.
Thoughts?
Thank you so much!
Doug
Comments
-
I have a TENS machine which is useful and I find swimming can be useful.
-
Whoah that's inTENSe. Bad puns all day ::Drum rolls::. Which one did you get?
-
Try the one from Lloyds’s chemist I find it helps a bit but I have it on for hours at a time
-
Great. We'll take a look.
What are your guys' thoughts on a vibrating foam roller? -
Evening Doug,
I have a vibrating massager (that sounds dodgy.....not sure how to describe it! Firm cushion....) that hubby bought a few years ago. My pain was completely uncontrolled - this was before my spinal cord stimulator - and I couldn't cope with the vibration, it just seemed to ramp up the sciatica. But.....more recently I have found it helps and I think maybe maybe the vibration helps act as a deterrent, maybe in a similar way to TENS and my scs. A roller sounds a bit more gentle so I would give it a go!
Swimming is a great form of exercise - if your nerve pain can tolerate the water temperature (I can't), but most advice seems to be to stay away from breast stroke. I do have a friend who swears by her hot tub! Not on most of our radars sadly.
I do use exercise bands for resistance exercises - great for me as I dislocate easily and regularly so struggle with weights or sometimes supporting my own body weight. The same physio who got me using bands, also recommended a gym ball for sitting exercises to build up the core. I have recently been introduced to Plexus wheels (other makes out there I believe) which are another form of massaging the back but also building up muscles.....worth a look, but I haven't had enough experience to give a really honest opinion though and they are quite pricey.
Not sure about the roman exercise chair - will have to look that one up! After my original back surgery aged 21 I took up yoga which I think probably kept me going until my back completely gave up on me aged 39. Since I have tried to keep up some of the core work and stretches but swapped to pilates - I follow videos on You tube as I couldn't manage a full length class now, nor the cost. I will try to remember to look up some links and post tomorrow.
Finally, as bed is calling, for a slightly more energetic workout (my kids would laugh) I try to use my neighbour's exercise bike and treadmill - walking you understand, not running!! I would walk outside, but it is very hilly here and I just can't manage to walk in the same way that I can on the treadmill with the zimmer frame like handles!! If you are like me some of the pilates might be a bit too slow, despite the pain.
Wow....hadn't meant to write so much. Hope this is slightly useful, Doug!
Claire -
Claire, thank you! Very useful. Do you follow an exercise program of any sort? Roman chair, my physical therapist, who happens to be my friend and co-worker swears by them.
Wow, you have a wealth of knowledge. Thanks for contributing. Looking forward to those links!
-
Hell hello and welcome, I would strongly recommend you have an appointment with a Physiotherapist private or NHS referred from your GP. He or she will know just the right exercises to give you and make sure you are doing them safely and properly, plus you will get a follow up appointment to se how you are coping. I hah this for a knee operation recovery then years later had a six week back class physo session plus a one to one with a specialist neurological physiotherapist who was able to tel what I was sufering from before i received my formal diagnosis of MS. So don’t go doing things that might hurt or make your condition worst seek proper advice.
Brightness
Categories
- All Categories
- 13K Start here and say hello!
- 6.6K Coffee lounge
- 104 Games lounge
- 416 Cost of living
- 4.3K Disability rights and campaigning
- 1.9K Research and opportunities
- 199 Community updates
- 9.3K Talk about your situation
- 2.1K Children, parents, and families
- 1.6K Work and employment
- 777 Education
- 1.7K Housing and independent living
- 1.4K Aids, adaptations, and equipment
- 615 Dating, sex, and relationships
- 363 Exercise and accessible facilities
- 737 Transport and travel
- 31.6K Talk about money
- 4.4K Benefits and financial support
- 5.2K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 17.1K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 4.9K Universal Credit (UC)
- 6.3K Talk about your impairment
- 1.8K Cerebral palsy
- 869 Chronic pain and pain management
- 180 Physical and neurological impairments
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 1.2K Mental health and wellbeing
- 319 Sensory impairments
- 825 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions