A Bulging Disc can be referred as a disc in the spine that has flattened and expanded or bulged into the spinal canal. This medical condition is commonly caused by continuous pressure from the surrounding vertebrae pressing against the disc and causing the disc to lose its shape and height.

There are many do’s and don’ts for the bulging disc medical condition. Exercise is one of the most important things for bulging disc recovery or aggravation. Some exercises are good and recommended for bulging disc recovery while other exercises can worsen the bulging disc condition. Here we discuss some of the exercises to strictly avoid if you are suffering from bulging disc medical condition.

Following Are The 8 Exercises To Avoid If You Have A Bulging Disc

1. Crunches: The crunches is one of the most popular and common abdominal exercises. It works the rectus abdominis muscle and also works the obliques. The crunch exercise is usually done to strengthen the abdominal muscles. This exercise is done by lying down on the floor and keeping the knees bent and lifting up the back. This may strengthen the abdominal muscle, but it will put immense pressure on the lumbar spine. Hence, a person suffering from Bulging Disc should avoid doing Crunches Exercise as this exercise will aggravate the condition.
2. Leg Presses: As the name suggests, the Leg Presses exercise is done using a Leg Press machine or apparatus and is a weight training exercise. In Leg press exercise, the individual pushes some weight or resistance away from the body with the use of his or her legs. This exercise is very good for the hips, quads, glutes and hamstrings to strengthen, but it puts excessive pressure on the lumbar spine. So, it is advisable to avoid doing leg press exercise for bulging disc medical condition.
3. Seated Exercises – These exercises strengthens the shoulder, neck, thighs and legs. These exercises do create a rounded back which exacerbates or worsens the bulging disc condition with pain and discomfort. So, one should avoid seated exercises if they have bulging disc medical condition.
4. Weighted Lateral Bends: A person with bulging disc should strictly avoid Lateral bending exercise. In a lateral bend exercise, one will put stretch to the side putting a lot of body weight on the side of the bend. This exercise creates a pressure on the lumbar spine back which worsens bulging disc condition.
5. Deadlifts: People with bulging disc should strictly avoid deadlifts exercise, as it is extremely harmful for them. Deadlifts weight training exercise is to lift weight from a standing position without any support. It creates a rounded back in the process of lifting, meaning that the lumbar spine is completely bent. This exercise puts immense pressure on the lumbar spine and thus, it should be avoided.
6. Squatting – Squatting exercise is yet another exercise to avoid for a bulging disc. When a person squats, the entire body weight shifts to their lower back and when getting back up with all the body weight on the lower back it creates too much pressure on the lumbar spine to handle, especially if the one already has a bulging disc. Thus, squatting exercise must be avoided at all costs when it comes to prevent worsening of bulging discs and the severe pain and discomfort that accompanies it.
7. Seated Rowing – This exercise is usually done for the shoulders. This may strengthen the shoulder muscles, but creates a rounded back with immense pressure on the lumbar spine which tends to aggravate bulging disc and cause severe pain and discomfort to the person affected by disc bulging medical condition.
8. Preacher Curls: This is yet another exercise to avoid for bulging disc. Preacher curls is lifting weights while in seated position. This may strengthen the shoulders and the arms, but it tends to create immense pressure on the lumbar back due to the weight transfer while lifting and tends to aggravate a back condition like bulging disc.