How Strong Legs Improve Spinal Health - AICA Orthopedics (2024)

How Strong Legs Improve Spinal Health - AICA Orthopedics (1)The spine is an important part of how your body functions, and it is incredibly important that we take care of our spine so that it can function optimally. The spine is dependent upon other muscle groups, specifically the glutes and leg muscles for stabilization.

When these muscle groups are weak, it can lead to several problems such as pain, especially in the lower spine and extremities, and decreased overall function and health. So take the time to strengthen leg muscles, which will not only improve spinal health but also improve your overall quality of life.

For the best spinal and overall health, visit a chiropractic clinic in Atlanta. In the meantime, keep reading to learn why strong legs can help your back.

Strong Glutes and Legs Decrease Pain

The upper leg muscles and three muscles that make up the gluteal muscle group are vital to spine stabilization that leads to decreased pain and proper movement. When these muscles are healthy, you can walk correctly, stay stable when we stand, climb stairs easily, all without dysfunction or pain.

Legs and glutes are what propel the hip and thigh forward so that you can do all these things without a second thought. But when these muscle groups are weak, it will lead to pain and dysfunctions, specifically in the knees, hips, or lower back areas.

If you experience problems such as trouble balancing on one foot, knee pain, an uneven gait, or an ability to stand up strong and stable, you may be suffering from weak leg and glute muscles. Thankfully, there is a solution to these problems, and it all begins with strengthening the appropriate muscle groups.

Exercises to Strengthen Spinal Support

Specific exercises focusing on increasing leg strength can also improve spinal support. Regular exercises can make all the difference in your spinal health and levels of pain.

Here are some targeted exercises that are simple yet effective for strengthening leg muscles and improving spinal support.

  1. Clam Shell: For this exercise, lie on your side with your knees stacked on top of each other and bent at a 45-degree angle. Stabilize yourself with the upper hand and rest your head on the lower hand.

Tighten your core by sucking the stomach in towards the belly button and hold this position. With your feet still touching, raise the upper knee as high as you can without moving the hips or pelvis. Hold this stretch for five seconds. Bring the knee back down to the bottom knee and repeat. Do this exercise 20 times and then flip to do it 20 more times on the other side.

  1. Hip Extensions: Stand behind a chair such as a kitchen chair or dining room chair. Have your shoulders, hips, knees, and toes, squared off in front of the chair. Then, take your right leg and bring it back towards a wall behind you. Keep the knee and leg in line with the hip. Hold for five seconds and release. Do this exercise ten times and then switch to do ten more with the other leg.
  2. Glute Bridges: First, lie on your back with your arms down, palms flat. Bend your knees up and place your feet flat on the floor. Tighten the core muscles by sucking in towards the spine and raise the buttocks off the floor to create a straight line from shoulders to knees.

Just like the exercise suggests, imagine lifting your lower half to create a bridge. Hold this stretch stable without sagging or swaying for five to ten seconds and then release. Do this several more times. For an extension, you can raise one leg and then lift the glutes to perform the bridge stretch, remaining stable on just one leg.

Chiropractic Care Improves Spinal Health

Regular exercises can help tremendously for improving spinal stability, but so can chiropractic care. Performing these suggested stretches combined with proper chiropractic care can make a significant impact on your health and significantly decrease pain.

The spine is a crucial part of the central nervous system, responsible for relay messages throughout the body, even to the glutes and leg muscles. All muscle groups can function ideally when signals can be sent and received without nerve interference from spinal misalignments.

If you have weak muscles in the lower back, glutes, and legs, consider chiropractic in Atlanta. Regular adjustments will ensure a full range of motion of the spine, which will, in turn, strengthen the leg and glute muscles as well.

Strong legs and glutes are imperative to daily function. They affect how both mobility and stability. To function at high levels of health, be sure to focus on both increase muscle strength in lower extremities as well as making chiropractic in Atlanta a regular part of your routine. Contact AICA Orthopedics to find out more about how we can help.

Category: Health and Wellness, Spine Care

How Strong Legs Improve Spinal Health - AICA Orthopedics (2024)

FAQs

How Strong Legs Improve Spinal Health - AICA Orthopedics? ›

Strong Glutes and Legs Decrease Pain

Will strengthening my legs help my lower back? ›

According to a 2019 review , researchers have linked weak gluteus maximus muscles to lower back pain. Strengthening these muscles may help prevent this symptom. The glutes help stabilize the lower back by acting as both a stabilizer and a mobilizer.

Does walking strengthen your spine? ›

Walking is one of the best exercises for your entire body, and that's also true for your back. In fact, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends walking as part of a recovery plan from back surgery. Walking: Strengthens the trunk, core, and lumbar muscles (all of which support your spine)

Is walking good for L4 and L5? ›

Walking may be a natural and enjoyable way to alleviate low back pain. By gradually improving cardiovascular fitness, patients will find that they are able to engage in additional physical activities to further strengthen and support their back.

How can I heal my spine naturally? ›

10 Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Spine
  1. Stretch and strengthen the back. ...
  2. Maintain a healthy weight. ...
  3. Don't Smoke. ...
  4. Reduce or eliminate inflammatory foods. ...
  5. Take care with heavy lifting. ...
  6. Stay in motion. ...
  7. Stand whenever possible. ...
  8. Try yoga.
Jun 30, 2021

What is the single best exercise for spinal stenosis? ›

Stationary biking may be preferable. Others find swimming to be a positive activity, or water therapy (which is exercise in a pool). Joining a gym and working with a therapist or trainer is often an effective way to learn some good stretching and core strengthening exercises.

What is the king of lower back exercises? ›

The deadlift is the king of posterior chain strengthening exercises. It strengthens the lats, lumbar extensors, glutes, hamstrings, and everything in between. When executed properly the movement teaches one to hip-hinge and have adequate control over their hips and low back.

What is the best exercise to strengthen your spine? ›

L'Italien recommends the "big three" exercises developed by Dr. Stuart McGill, an expert in spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo in Canada. They are the curl-up, the side plank, and the bird-dog. "These exercises engage all the important muscles needed to improve spine stability," says L'Italien.

Can too much walking damage your back? ›

Prolonged walking or standing can tire or strain the muscles in the lower back and legs, which can lead to aches and pains. This pain or discomfort usually gets better with sitting or lying down to rest the back. People who are overweight may be more at risk for muscle fatigue when standing or walking.

What is one exercise that will help you strengthen your spine? ›

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor (A). Using both hands, pull up one knee and press it toward your chest (B). Tighten the muscles in your belly and press your spine to the floor. Hold for five seconds.

Can disc bulge L4 and L5 be cured permanently? ›

No matter what the cause of the L4-L5 spine segment, it can be treated with surgery or injections. Accurate diagnosis and corrective treatment that target the root cause are crucial to your recovery. Before we discuss disorders and possible treatment options, let us first talk about the low back (lumbar spinal).

What exercises should L4 and L5 avoid? ›

Generally speaking, as the L4 and L5 discs are located right at the bottom of the lumbar spine you'll want to avoid exercises that involve any kind of forward bending that can cause further compression from the waist down.

Does L4 and L5 affect bowels? ›

While lumbar radiculopathy typically affects one leg at a time, sometimes, both legs may be affected together. An injury to the cauda equina may cause severe pain, weakness, numbness, tingling, or paralysis in both legs. There may also be a reduction or complete loss of bowel and/or bladder control.

What vitamin strengthens the spine? ›

In addition to helping with the absorption of calcium, vitamin D keeps your spine healthy by maintaining bone strength. It also helps strengthen the immune system, which benefits your spine by reducing issues with inflammation. Dietary sources of vitamin D include: Milk and eggs.

Can you reverse spinal damage? ›

There's no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord. But researchers are continually working on new treatments. They include prostheses and medicines that might promote nerve cell regeneration or improve the function of the nerves that remain after a spinal cord injury.

How can I stop my spine from deteriorating? ›

How can I prevent degenerative disk disease?
  1. Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight.
  2. Avoiding or quitting smoking.
  3. Exercising regularly to increase strength and flexibility.

What's the fastest way to strengthen your lower back? ›

7 Exercises to Strengthen Your Lower Back
  1. Dead Bug. This move helps control front-to-back pelvic tilting and can also improve core strength. ...
  2. Toe Taps. The Peloton instructor also recommends mixing in some toe taps. ...
  3. Glute Bridges. ...
  4. World's Greatest Stretch. ...
  5. Hamstring Stretch with Straight Leg Raise. ...
  6. Side Plank. ...
  7. Founder Exercise.
Dec 27, 2023

Can a weak lower back cause weak legs? ›

Injuries and conditions affecting the low back cause more than just pain; they can cause sudden or on-going weakness in the legs, hips or feet. Back pain may even create weakness in the arms and hands.

What is the best exercise for the lower back? ›

Exercises to Help Lower Back Pain
  • Step 1: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
  • Step 2: Use both hands to pull one knee into your chest.
  • Step 3: Tighten your abdominals and press your spine to the floor. ...
  • Step 4: Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
Sep 25, 2023

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