People with back pain often labor under the misconception that exercise will only make matters worse. But the truth is that your back can benefit from gentle exercise. And while you’re helping your back, you can be enjoying some of the wonderful activities the Garden State has to offer.
Here are my suggestions for 4 New Jersey activities that can help with back pain.
1. Visit the Mt. Cuba Center.
One of the many garden centers of New Jersey, the Mt. Cuba Center offers more than just a stroll through the secret life of our state’s native plants. It also offers a range of courses in tree planting, wildlife and wellness courses, like Yoga.
If you can see yourself learning how to plant a tree correctly, or practicing gentle Yoga in the heart of a beautiful natural center, you can see yourself enjoying Mt. Cuba and supporting your back health at the same time.
2. Cycling
Now that spring is here, there’s no excuse not to get outdoors and cycling is the ideal way to do it. This low impact form of exercise not only gets you outdoors, it improves your cardiovascular health and balance and strengthens muscles.
The New Jersey Bike Map is an online resource that shows you where all the great cycling routes are in our beautiful state. So, get up on your bike and ride while your back says “thank you”.
3. Stroll your local Farmers’ Market.
Farmers’ Markets are everywhere these days, so there’s bound to be one near you. You’ll find the kind of food your body needs here; food that promotes healing and wellbeing. Locally sourced food is as fresh as it can be.
While you’re hunting down all those fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, you’ll also be treating your back to gentle exercise that’s nothing but beneficial.
4. Hit the shore.
You’re only young once, but hitting the shore is fun for kids of all ages. Best of all, there’s an ocean there, offering your back the luxury of throwing yourself into nature’s communal swimming pool and enjoying a swim.
Swimming is another low impact activity that can make a big difference to your back. Before and after your dip in the ocean, there’s the beach to stroll, as you take in the delights of one of New Jersey’s most famed summer destinations.
Your back needs you.
Your back needs you to feel better. That means getting out and engaging in pleasant activities that promote movement. Your body was built to move and when you combine exercise with an experience like enjoying the beauty our state, you’ve found a powerful motivator that will keep you moving regularly and happily.
At Back & Body Medical, we’re multi-disciplinarians practicing sports medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy and acupuncture. We create personalized programs of care with the goal of relieving pain and promoting overall wellness.
If you’re experiencing back pain, please feel free to contact us for a consultation. We’re here to help.
