Addressing Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain with 5 Effective Exercises

Flexion-intolerant low back pain is a common issue treated by chiropractors, particularly among younger patients. It's characterized by pain that worsens with flexion movements. Here are five exercises that are crucial for patients to help regain flexibility without risking injury and resume their daily activities.

Understanding Flexion Intolerance

Traditional rehab methods for flexion-intolerant back pain often revolved around core muscle strengthening while maintaining a neutral spine. However, research has shown that improvements in strength and endurance do not always lead to positive outcomes. Additionally, simply avoiding painful positions temporarily is insufficient. To enhance loading tolerance and alleviate the fear of bending forward, patients need exposure to a variety of movements.

Flexion Intolerant Back Pain Exercises

Quadruped Rocking Exercise

Begin by gently moving the spine into flexion, rocking the hips back towards a child's pose position with minimal load. Gradually increase the range of motion as tolerated.

Tall Kneeling Exercise

Building on the quadruped rock, increase the load by using gravity. When the hips are on the feet, the spine is loaded under flexion. To add more challenge, consider using a backpack or weights.

Half-Kneeling Chop Exercise

Introduce variety to the flexion pattern by slowly flexing across the body. Anchor an exercise band high to create resistance during spinal flexion.

Squats

Progress to a squat, beginning with bodyweight squats. The spine is loaded into flexion at the bottom of the position. Add load to increase tolerance and build confidence.

Reactive Challenge Exercises

Boost confidence and reduce the fear of movement by introducing interactive exercises. These can include activities like balloon tosses, movement mimes, and virtual bowling. The aim is to diversify movements and reduce protective muscle guarding.

The goal of a gradual exercise progression is to identify a tolerable movement and then slowly increase the load and complexity until the patient can comfortably return to their activities of daily living. While strength training is essential for chronic flexion-intolerant low back pain rehabilitation, it's vital to acknowledge other contributing factors that impact this condition.