Herniated Disc Exercises & Stretches for Pain Relief
Got Back Pain from a Herniated disc? A herniated disc can be very debilitating. Sometimes a nerve can get compressed, and there will also be numbness and tingling going down one leg. These stretches and exercises should help. Buy a worksheet with these stretches & exercises: https://www.askdoctorjo.com/product/herniated-disc-worksheet
A knee to chest stretch and pelvic tilts are great ways to loosen up the low back area where there might be tightness and pressure causing increased pain.
Prone props are also great to help “push” the disc back in. This should only be performed if you have a proper diagnosis and are cleared by your doctor as they might not be indicated for other back issues.
The upper back can be a hard area to stretch. Tight rhomboid muscles and other muscles around the shoulder and neck can cause upper back pain. My favorite stretch for the upper back area is a seated rhomboid stretch.
These back pain relief stretches don’t necessarily need to be done in bed, but they are a great way to help relieve back pain in the morning before getting up, and/or when going to bed at night.
Osteoporosis develops when the structure and strength of bone changes. This can cause decrease in bone strength which can increase the risk of breaking bones. These gentle exercises for osteoporosis, when done at one’s own pace, can help prevent further decline and help protect the bones.
Stretches & exercises are a great way to help relieve back pain. But with nearly 1,000 videos on the Ask Doctor Jo YouTube Channel, it can be hard to find the best one for you. So for 2025, here are some of my favorite Back Pain Relief Videos that actually work!
Upper back pain or thoracic area pain is sometimes caused by trigger points or muscle knots. Trigger points are basically when a specific area on a muscle gets irritated and tightens up into a ball or knot.
With osteoporosis, it’s important to perform exercises that strengthen the body while protecting the spine. Lying down in the hook lying position is a great way to help do this. The key is to move safely—maintaining good spinal alignment and avoiding twisting movements. These gentle exercises when done at one’s own pace should help with osteoporosis pain relief.