The intervertebral discs in the spine are a type of cartilage joint whose core is made of a very flexible jelly-like substance called mucoprotein gel. The discs are like pads located between individual vertebrae. They serve two main purposes: they provide movement to the spine and act as shock absorbers to support the impact of weight moving down the spine. When a disc is damaged or ruptured, the injury can cause some of the inner gel-like substance to bulge or protrude through the disc's tougher outer ring, putting pressure on surrounding nerves and causing pain and discomfort. Disc degeneration, including herniation, causes pain, inflammation, and symptoms when material from the inner core or outer disc presses on spinal nerves, the spinal cord, or other structures of the spine. Symptoms may develop or worsen if the disc damage progresses, the herniation becomes more severe, and the patient does not receive traction on the spine. Although this condition can occur anywhere in the spine, it most often develops in the cervical and lumbar spine. The lower back and neck bear the heaviest load and are the most mobile parts of the spine.
Causes of protrusion
A herniated disc occurs as a result of wear and tear on the intervertebral disc, most often as a result of gradual age-related wear. As we age, the inner gel-like substance of the spinal discs begins to lose flexibility, causing the discs to more easily slip out of place and put pressure on surrounding nerves. An important factor in accelerated disc degeneration is a person's lifestyle and daily habits. Some people do a lot of heavy work using incorrect movements, which causes the discs to support too much weight. For those who play sports, a herniated disc can be the result of repetitive movements and a forceful impact on the discs or a sudden twisting movement. People who are overweight are also at increased risk of herniated discs due to the extra weight the discs must support. All of these can accelerate disc degeneration or cause a disc to rupture, putting pressure on surrounding nerves.
Running on a treadmill with a herniated disc
Training is possible only after consultation with your doctor and subject to the following conditions: • replacing the mechanical drive with an electric drive (otherwise the belt is driven by muscle force, which increases the load); • low running speed (as the speed increases, the load increases); • horizontal position of the track (even a barely noticeable tilt significantly increases the load).
You can exercise on a mechanically driven exercise machine if it is installed underwater. As a result, it is possible to minimize the load on the spine and get double benefits by combining jogging with water treatments. Proper running on the HouseFit treadmill for a herniated disc has a beneficial effect on all systems: • accelerates blood flow, facilitating the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cells; • makes all muscle groups work; • trains the cardiovascular system; • strengthens muscles; • improves joint mobility; • prevents muscle atrophy; • promotes weight loss; • prevents weight gain; • increases muscle mass; • heals the body; • lifts your spirits; • relieves aggression and depression; • increases stress resistance and endurance; • facilitates adaptation to negative environmental factors. Running is allowed only after the relapse has stopped. In this case, strict control over the general condition of the body is important. If a person regularly feels pain and discomfort during training, then an alternative to running would be walking on a treadmill if there is a herniated disc. It allows you to improve your body's health without straining your spine.
Clinical manifestations of protrusion
In addition to back pain, additional symptoms may also occur:
1. Pain that radiates down one or both legs. 2. Weakness of the leg muscles, which does not allow the patient to walk normally. 3. Numbness of one or both legs. 4. Difficulty walking even short distances.
Of course, all these problems inevitably greatly interfere with normal life and activities. Pain from a herniated disc usually worsens when a person is active and decreases when they rest. Coughing, sneezing, sitting, driving, and bending forward can increase pain. The pain increases because these movements put more pressure on the nerve. People with a painful bulging disc often try to change positions to relieve pain.
Is it possible to exercise on a treadmill if you have a herniated disc?
Any careless movements can cause complications. Therefore, you need to avoid activities that put stress on the spine. This includes running. When moving, foot impacts cause vibration, which leads to microscopic injuries and displacement of the vertebrae, the development of inflammation and swelling. Therefore, you should not run if you have pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, accompanied by severe pain, or after surgery. But this limitation usually does not apply to treadmills. Thanks to the shock-absorbing properties of these exercise machines, it is possible to significantly reduce the load on the back area. But to give an exact answer to the question: “Is it possible to exercise on a treadmill if you have a herniated disc?” Only a doctor can. He will take into account the individual characteristics of the body, the size and location of the protrusion, the stage and severity of the disease, the presence of other pathologies and calculate the permissible load.
Treatment of protrusion
The goal of treatment is to minimize nerve damage and relieve pain and other symptoms caused by a bulging disc. The type of treatment a patient receives will depend on the size of the herniated disc, its location, and the results of previous treatment.
Non-surgical treatments for a herniated disc include:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
- heat and ice therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- traction/manipulation;
- chiropractic;
- opioid painkillers;
- epidural injections;
- other anti-inflammatory drugs.
Typically, non-surgical treatments are used for one to two months before surgical alternatives are considered. Some surgical options for a herniated disc include:
- microdiscectomy;
- discectomy;
- disk replacement;
- laminectomy;
- laminoplasty;
- laminotomy;
- hemilaminotomy;
- foraminotomy;
- spinal fusion.
Surgery is recommended if nonsurgical pain treatments do not help or symptoms worsen (including loss of function). All surgical options are performed under general anesthesia.
Treatment
As a rule, treatment of protrusion of the cervical spine uses conservative methods, and surgical treatment is rarely required. Conservative treatment relieves symptoms and stops the progression of the disease.
The doctor prescribes a course of treatment for the patient, taking into account the clinical picture, age, gender and characteristics of the body. Treatment of protrusion of the cervical spine can take up to one and a half months. The patient undergoes procedures 2-3 times a week. Neck pain can usually be relieved after 1-2 weeks of treatment. The following methods can be used in the course of treatment:
Prevention
Fortunately, a herniated disc is treatable and can often be prevented by making certain lifestyle changes and strengthening exercises that can help keep the spine strong and healthy:
- 1. Strengthen the muscle frame. Having strong muscles can help protect the intervertebral discs and prevent back damage and injury. The core consists of the muscles of the trunk, including the abdominal cavity and back. To strengthen your core muscles, you can do a variety of exercises, including Pilates and yoga.
- 2.Increase overall flexibility. Keeping your body mobile and flexible helps reduce spinal injuries. Simple exercises such as bending over can help relax the muscles.
- 3. Maintain good posture. A sedentary lifestyle, for example, sitting at a desk for long periods of time, can lead to back problems and osteochondrosis. Poor posture when lifting heavy objects and strenuous activities that require repetitive movements that place stress on the back can accelerate disc degeneration.
- 4.Maintain a Healthy Weight and Diet A healthy and nutritious diet can help prevent obesity and reduce stress on the spine. Excess weight can significantly contribute to the development of symptoms associated with osteochondrosis, which can lead to protrusion of the intervertebral disc.
Apart from this, vitamins like calcium and vitamin D are also essential for maintaining the strength of bones, including the bones of the spine. A lack of calcium can lead to low bone density and therefore increase the risk of bone diseases such as osteoporosis
Sports for pathologies of the spine and joints
It is impossible to imagine a healthy lifestyle without sports. Physical activity improves well-being and serves as a preventive measure for many diseases, including those affecting the spine or joints. But what should those who have already “acquainted” with osteochondrosis or hernia do? Stop training altogether? Indeed, many sports are dangerous for an already damaged spine. However, there is a fairly extensive list of options that will not do any harm.
Sports for spinal pathologies
There are a lot of diseases of the spine: osteochondrosis, hernia, scoliosis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc. For them, there are general principles of prohibited and permitted physical activity. You need to be careful when playing sports with rotational (i.e., around your axis) movements. They are found in golf, tennis and badminton. Sudden movement around oneself can lead to spinal injury of varying severity. Therefore, participation in these sports is allowed either during the period of remission or in case of the disease at the initial stage.
a diseased spine should be the reason for refusing to engage in extreme sports, as well as various compression loads arising from:
- When running;
- In alpine skiing;
- In parkour and rock climbing.
You should also avoid motor team games: football, volleyball, etc. These sports are known for their traumatic nature due to the intense pace of the game and the aggressive behavior of the players. Weightlifting is also not allowed for any spinal disease. Lifting weights is accompanied by risk even for healthy athletes, but a person with pathology should avoid it in every possible way.
Sports that are good for the spine
The first place rightfully belongs to swimming. This is the best option for spinal injuries. All thanks to gentle loads and low risk of injury. In addition, swimming is suitable for overweight people and those who have never been a fan of active training. When swimming, all muscle groups are strengthened, including those supporting the spinal column. This is especially important for people suffering from disc protrusion and similar pathologies. There is an improvement in overall physical fitness, well-being and mood become better.
Injuries during swimming arise from non-compliance with safety precautions, so jumping into the water, especially upside down, will have to be abandoned.
Walks. For them, it is worth choosing a flat area without the constant need to rise and fall and carefully check each step. It is important to choose the right shoes: comfortable, with good shock absorption and stability.
Sports for joint diseases
First, you need to avoid a common mistake: the damaged joint should be protected from excessive stress, and not from any load at all. A sedentary lifestyle will only worsen your condition. You need to avoid the same thing as with spinal pathologies: sports with an increased risk of injury and heavy loads.
Activities not suitable for sore joints:
- Running;
- Parkour and other physical activities involving compression loads, i.e., concussions, for example, when landing after a jump. This threatens inflammation or destruction of cartilage tissue.
Aggressive team games like football are not recommended. The reasons are the same as in the case of back diseases - high risk of injury.
Physical activity suitable for sore joints
Cross-country skiing. Smooth movements and sliding on the surface of the snow put less pressure on the joints than walking. It is important to choose a convenient route and stick to a comfortable pace. Cycling training. You can ride a bicycle or pedal an exercise bike. The advantage of this sport is a uniform load, as well as improved blood supply to muscles and joints.
None of the above sports will be useful if you practice “through pain.”
If discomfort occurs, you should stop immediately. Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr
Diagnostics
- • MRI
- Laboratory research
- An increase in ESR may be a sign of the presence of an epidural abscess or tumor that puts pressure on the root
- C-reactive protein - increased levels in patients with rheumatological diseases
- Leukocytosis is characteristic of an epidural abscess, osteomyelitis, or infection.
- Radiography
. Disc protrusion is not visible on x-rays. But this research method makes it possible to detect the presence of anomalies, injuries, spondylolisthesis - CT
. CT scanning. A small disc protrusion may not show up on a CT scan, which can detect medium to large disc protrusions. - Myelogram
. This research method was used quite often in the past in preparation for back surgery, but after the advent of MRI imaging, the need for this diagnostic method has decreased significantly. - EMG (ENMG).
These neurophysiological methods are used to evaluate nerve damage. - PET
- bone scan - this method is only necessary if there is a suspicion of a tumor or infection. - Bone densitometry
. A bone density test can detect diseases such as osteoporosis.
- a reliable test for diagnosing small and large disc protrusions.