In this short, Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, clinical director at Novaré Injury Care and Rehab in Fort Myers, covers habits to stop if you have a herniated disc. He explains why long stretches of sitting add disc pressure, suggests setting a timer at work to get up every 30 to 45 minutes, and explains why he prefers extension-based movements over rigorous flexion exercises and forward folds.
Read the full guide: 5 Ways to Stay Active With a Herniated Disc and Feel Better →
Video Transcript
Listen, stop doing these three things if you have a herniated disc.
Number one, stop sitting for extended periods of time. Every time that you sit for hours, you're increasing disc pressure. If you're at work, set a timer to get up every 30 to 45 minutes.
Number two, stop rigorous flexion exercises and forward folds. They just push the herniation further towards the spinal cord and onto the nerve roots. Try extension-based movements instead. They're much, much safer.
And number three, stop waiting for it to resolve on its own. It won't. The disc needs to be mechanically addressed, or everything around it compensates and continues to break down.
Read the full guide on staying active with a herniated disc →