Question
I recently found out that I have degenerative disc disease, although it is just in the beginner stage. I had a surgery two months ago to release a pinched nerve in my back. My docter has told me to loose weight immediately and to exercise. I want to know what exercises I can do in order to strengthen my back and abdominal muscles? Am I aloud to do Tae Bo for instance? Can I do Pilates? I know I am not aloud to jog anymore and not aloud to do situps. The only thing the docter told me was that I am alloud to swim. I am following a eating plan now to loose the weight but I want to know what exercises I can do to aid my back, that will also help me loose weight.  Your answer will be much appreciated.

Answer
Hello, Odette,

First thing:  "Degenerative Disc Disease" isn't a disease, even though it's called that.  There's no outside cause for it, other than the body's own muscular actions:  It's the consequence of very contracted back muscles pulling vertebrae together, causing disc compression and breakdown.

So, strengthening exercises are out of the question.  You need to quiet the muscular actions that are causing the problem.

More than relaxation is needed; you need better control of the movements that involve those muscles, so that they act when necessary and relax when not needed, instead of staying tight all the time.  Swimming may help, but better than that are  somatic exercises.  You may read about them at somatics.com/page4b.htm, along with articles on back pain.

As to situps, please read the article on the psoas muscles and abdominal exercises, accessible at the same page.

Once you are back in sound condition, Tae Bo would be ok -- but not before.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold