The Southeastern Spine Institute

How Can I Tell if My Back Pain Is from Exercising?

When your back starts acting up, visit your back specialist at the Southeastern Spine Institute for an evaluation. Overwork and overtraining can lead to physical problems that hinder your mobility and limit your quality of life. Untreated back pain from exercise can lead to serious consequences. While most people don’t exercise enough, overexertion can cause harm as well.

The team at the Southeastern Spine Institute provides you with an accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment. They also offer advice and guidance to prevent recurring back pain from exercise, whether you’ve had back pain in the past, just underwent a procedure or are looking for ways to avoid problems.

How Do I Spot the Signs of Overexertion?

Unless you’re just trying to maintain basic mobility, training and exercise is supposed to be somewhat strenuous. Your body was designed for physical movement, and it atrophies without regular activity. But sometimes you can go too far. You often can tell you’re overdoing an exercise when you start to notice symptoms such as:

  • Your performance begins to suffer
  • The need for rest becomes more urgent
  • A feeling of exhaustion
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Mood disorders and shortness of temper
  • Insomnia
  • Extremely sore muscles
  • Your arms and legs feel heavy
  • More frequent injuries
  • A lack of motivation
  • Frequent illnesses
  • Unintended weight loss

Back pain from exercise is another common symptom from overexertion. If you notice increased back pain during your workouts, it’s time to take a break. Talk to your sports medicine back specialist at the Southeastern Spine Institute for ways to protect your back while you exercise.

Is Your Exercise Routine an Addiction?

If you find it difficult to stop your routine despite back pain, then you may have developed an unhealthy compulsion. Warning signs that can help you identify when your otherwise healthy habit has become a compulsive activity include:

  • Guilty or anxious feelings when you don’t exercise
  • You exercise despite the pain
  • Your loved ones or healthcare provider have indicated concern about your lifestyle
  • An absence of joy during your routine
  • You neglect important activities to train
  • Amenorrhea, which is a cessation of the menstrual cycle

Compulsive and addictive activity may sometimes be beneficial, since good habits create successful people. Unfortunately, too much dedication to anything can lead to an unbalanced life and trouble with your health. If you enjoy an active lifestyle, your friends probably have some of the same aches and pains you do. But when you experience back pain from exercise, your body is trying to tell you that something isn’t right. Heed these warnings.

Can Medical Attention Help My Condition?

The expert staff at the Southeastern Spine Institute treat you with the most appropriate, least invasive treatment possible. They offer physical therapy services that can help you get your workout routine under control. The PT experts can also tell you which exercises put you at risk for back pain from exercise.

Your physical therapist teaches you about body mechanics, posture and ergonomics. The back pain center in Mt. Pleasant, SC also has a pain management program and procedures to correct ongoing back problems. Contact the experienced spine physicians at the Southeastern Spine Institute today for a complete evaluation.