Biking is a popular form of aerobic exercise and is often a favored form of exercise by people with low back pain conditions. Biking may be a good exercise option for many reasons: Biking is less jarring to the spine than many other forms of aerobic exercise, such as jogging or aerobics class. Stationary bicycling is particularly gentle on the spine, and the variety of spinning classes now available can provide a vigorous aerobic workout with minimal stress to the lower back ..read more

Like most forms of exercise, weight lifting has many potential benefits for spinal health, but also has the potential to create or worsen back injuries. Extending or flexing the back muscles against resistance (the weight) during weightlifting and bodybuilding may result in several injuries, including muscle strain and ligament injury, Certain types of weightlifting exercises can be particularly stressful to the joints and soft tissues, such as Clean-and-jerk, Dead-lift, Snatch, Squats ..read more

In general, golf is an excellent form of low-impact aerobic exercise, especially if one walks the golf course instead of riding on a golf cart. The exercise encourages blood flow, which in turn helps maintain a healthy back. However, due to the repeated twisting and force inherent in the golf swing, the sport also leaves the lower back susceptible to injury ..read more

Running and jogging are excellent forms of aerobic exercise and can become an enjoyable part of one's daily routine. However, running involves repetitive jarring of the spine and can worsen a current or emerging back problem. How Running Causes Back Pain - Joints and discs are jarred and compressed by the force of the body leaving the ground and landing on every stride when running or jogging ..read more

Golf is a favorite sport and pastime among many. However, the torque and force applied across the lower back pain creates a significant risk for developing or worsening lower back pain. People who suffer from chronic or recurrent episodes of low back pain can be frustrated because the pain hinders their ability to play golf ..read more

For the millions of people who have long-standing low back pain, golf can still be an enjoyable sport. Using the right equipment, alongside a routine of stretching and low-impact exercise, will go a long way in helping maintain one’s ability to play golf ..read more

The thoracic spine is the longest region of the spine, and by some measures, it is also the most complex. Connecting with the cervical spine above and the lumbar spine below, the thoracic spine runs from the base of the neck down to the abdomen. It is the only spinal region attached to the rib cage ..read more

When upper back and chest pain occur together, the symptoms can vary widely depending on the cause or severity. Some people may experience mild discomfort or tightness while others may have sharp or intense pain. This pain may be one-sided (left or right) or on both sides. Below are potential causes of upper back and chest pain appearing at the same time ..read more

Upper back pain and chest pain occurring together can be especially concerning because vital organs, such as the heart, may potentially be involved. An understanding of the symptoms, underlying mechanisms, and causes of this type of pain can help differentiate between a commonly occurring condition and a medical emergency ..read more

There are 24 intervertebral discs in the spine. Of those, 12 are located in the thoracic spine. Each thoracic disc sits between two vertebrae to provide cushioning and shock absorption while preventing the vertebrae from grinding against each other. Thoracic discs tend to be thinner than cervical discs and lumbar discs, which may contribute to the thoracic spine’s relative lack of mobility compared to the neck and lower back. Another distinguishing feature of the thoracic discs is that all but the bottom two interface with ribs ..read more