There are many spinal conditions which may be the cause of back pain. How sensible it is to combine running with a back issue depends entirely on the nature of the spinal condition. Running may not always be advisable, since this type of sport is linked with impact stress on the joints and above all, for the spine. Such increased stress may exacerbate sensitive conditions and lead to more pain.

However, in the case of disc problems there is no general cause for concern with running unless symptoms are acute or of a neurological kind (pain spreading through the leg, tingling or loss of feeling). Do not run with these conditions. Once the acute symptoms have subsided, after a slipped disc for example, work with your doctor to create a safe training program, firstly of the core trunk (stomach, back muscles and hip rotators) and then stretching exercises before you resume running.

© Dr. Willi Heepe