Abdominal Workouts with Back Pain

rawrcandra

Hi all, I have a bulged disc (L5-S1), I do see a specialist about it, so I am slowly working on something to help manage the pain. Anyway, I was wondering are there any kind of exercises for the abs where I won't have to get on my back. Even if I try on carpet, I cannot lay on my back without any type of pain. Thanks for any help!

Sam_I_Am77

rawrcandra wrote: »

Hi all, I have a bulged disc (L5-S1), I do see a specialist about it, so I am slowly working on something to help manage the pain. Anyway, I was wondering are there any kind of exercises for the abs where I won't have to get on my back. Even if I try on carpet, I cannot lay on my back without any type of pain. Thanks for any help!

See if your specialist can refer you to a physical therapist. You likely need to improve your Core strength and a PT will help you with this, I've been through it and it's worth it. Once you get your disc situation improved and you're feeling better then you can always come back here for better Core training.

rawrcandra

Sam_I_Am77 wrote: »

rawrcandra wrote: »

Hi all, I have a bulged disc (L5-S1), I do see a specialist about it, so I am slowly working on something to help manage the pain. Anyway, I was wondering are there any kind of exercises for the abs where I won't have to get on my back. Even if I try on carpet, I cannot lay on my back without any type of pain. Thanks for any help!

See if your specialist can refer you to a physical therapist. You likely need to improve your Core strength and a PT will help you with this, I've been through it and it's worth it. Once you get your disc situation improved and you're feeling better then you can always come back here for better Core training.

Thank you so much for the advice. I will definitely talk to him about it when I see him on Tuesday.

emma_vdv

If your specialist okays it pilates might be a good one. Hypermobility has really damaged the facet joints in my back so I can't physically lay flat but there are loads of exercises that dont need you to lie back and really help build up core strength

rawrcandra

emma_vdv wrote: »

If your specialist okays it pilates might be a good one. Hypermobility has really damaged the facet joints in my back so I can't physically lay flat but there are loads of exercises that dont need you to lie back and really help build up core strength

Thanks! I will ask him about it. I am sorry about your issue. That is just awful.

Azdak

I wouldn't worry about doing "ab" exercises like crunches, etc (which you really shouldn't be doing anyway if you have a disc problem). You want to train the total core and there are lots of ways to this in a standing position.

Step up
Single leg squat and reach
Pallof presses
Front raise
Sit to stand
Straight arm pulldown
Wide grip lat pulldown
Hip extension
Hip abduction
Bird dog
Superman

That's just the start. Any one of these exercises is better than an ab curl for training your core.

SweatLikeDog

Planks