Is it good to walk with a lumbar impingement?

The lumbar spine It supports most of the weight of our body and is also the center of our balance. It protects the spinal cord, an essential part of the nervous system, from where various nerves are born that control movement and sensation in all areas of our body. A overload or repetitive motion can cause pinching of one of these nerves and cause pain or disturbances in sensory or movement. But when the pain comes Is it good to walk with an impingement place? Let’s go by steps.

Lumbar impingement: what is it and what causes it?

A pinch occurs when there is a compression of a nerve by the surrounding bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons. It can occur anywhere in the spine, but it is more common lumbar spine (in the lower part of the back) because this area supports many rotational movements and force throughout the day.

The possible causes of lumbar impingement are:

bad postural habits.Repetitive movements or overexertion due to the practice of physical exercise or work.Trauma or injury.Some diseases such as osteoarthritis(which causes thickening of the bones and can lead to bone spurs in the spine that reduce the space through which the bones pass). obesity It relieves pressure on the nerves.Be pregnantsince the increase in weight together with the changes in the connective tissue, ligaments and joints due to hormonal changes favor the occurrence of clamping in the lower back. Sedentary lifestyle or spend a lot of time still in bed (for example, during recovery after an operation).

He lumbar impingement may precede the appearance of a herniated discthat is, the displacement of a vertebra that compresses an intervertebral disc, and can affect (among others) the sciatic nerve, the longest in the body, which runs from the lower part of the back (sacral plexus) and passes through the leg to the feet. He lumbar impingement can lead to sciatica (a pain that starts in the lower back and goes down to the legs and feet following the path of the sciatic nerves).

Lumbar impingement: symptoms

He shooting pain in the lower back It is the most characteristic symptom of a lumbar impingement. There may also be:

Numbness and less sensitivity in the lower back.Tingle or punctures.numbness of the leg.Muscular weakness.Rigidity.spasms or involuntary contractions.reduced mobility.

The symptoms may be worse at nightwhile you sleep, and when you wake up.

Is it good to walk with a lumbar impingement?

Although the pain can make it difficult to walk, the rest for a long time is not recommended: can make pain worse and slow down the healing process.

As indicated by the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN) and the Spanish Society of Family and Community Pharmacy (SEFAC) in the Consensus Document on back pain, “Contrary to popular belief, the light exercise of the affected area promotes recovery”.

Walking is a good way to keep fit, although for some people it can aggravate pain. Therefore it is recommended to do short walks, at an easy pace and on flat ground and see how the body reacts.

If the impingement is caused by repetitive movements of the area, it is advisable to modify postural habits. For example, in case the cause is the movements that are carried out at work, a physical therapist can teach postural hygiene measures to perform those movements correctly: learn how to pick up weights, how to squat properly, etc.

To reduce pain it is important to sleeping posture: the most recommended is sleeping on the side or back and put a cushion under the knees. A mattress not too softhelps to keep the spine in a good posture and improve the quality of sleep.

If you have overweight or obese, slim down It will help to avoid compression of the nerve and prevent future episodes of lumbar impingement.

It is also recommended to do exercises and stretches specific for strengthen the lower back and relieve pressure on the nerve.

How long does a back impingement last?

The most people recover in a few days with measures such as massages, stretching and specific exercises to relieve pain. However, in some cases where other measures do not work surgery may be necessary.