A degree of physical activity is most often beneficial in limiting spinal pain. Sport and regular exercise assist in keeping your body fit and your muscles strong and it could help in reducing back pain. It is essential that you strength- en your stomach muscles and your leg muscles.

When participating in sport, it is important to keep the following in mind: Sport that requires a twisting action of your back or that involves excessive jumping (causing a jarring force on the discs) could have an adverse effect on your back pain.

Avoid sport or exercises that increases your back pain. Sporting activities that are recommended for people with back pain would include swimming, walk- ing, cycling and low impact aerobic exercises.

Some sporting activities such as bowls require a great deal of bending. Protect your back by keeping it straight and by tightening your stomach muscles. Use your strong leg muscles as much as possible when executing movements that involve bending.

Thorough warm-up exercises should be completed before commencing with your sporting activity. Regular stretching exercises are also important in pre- venting sport related injuries.