Military back pain exercise

A series of core strengthening exercises that were used to prevent back pain in soldiers has been hailed as discovering how exercise programs can help prevent chronic back pain from developing in highly active people or those that are employed in physically demanding jobs.  The University of Florida study took at a sample group of US soldiers and took at a look at how an educational program that teaches back strengthening exercises and an educational lecture on how to deal with back pain to combat how many of the units members would need to seek out back pain treatment later.

The study results were then published on the BioMed website in BMC Medicine the online open journal.  Lead investigator Steven George, an associate professor with the physical therapy department of the University, stated that it was the group’s hypothesis that the exercisers would help protect the back and prevent back pain and that with proper education chronic back pain could be prevented in those who were physically active.  What was found was that core stabilization exercises were only helpful in those who had also completed the education system showing that perhaps knowledge is the best tool in preventing back harm and subsequent pain in the body.

Within the Military Health System much like in the general public, lower back pain is one of the most common causes of military medical visitors and lost time on the job.  Co-investigator Lt. Col. John Childs stated that lower back pain often affects military preparedness and is one of the top reasons why many in the military are forced to leave in the middle of their service.  The core exercises that were introduced to the participants in the study included exercises that targeted the spine, back muscles, side muscles abdominal muscles, and pelvis muscles.