It seems that if you have injured your back, you do have a higher risk of re-injuring it at some point in your life. If your doctor has given you the ok, you could begin building up your strength and flexibility. By being fit, the job of standing upright, moving and lifting is taken off your back and put on to the stronger body muscles.

Any exercise you enjoy would do the trick to start if it gets the heart going and the muscles working, like walking, cycling or swimming. Avoid the types of exercise that can jar the back and involve jumping, for example. Also avoid ones that strain your back, like weight lifting.

Finally, be sure to use proper body mechanics when moving and lifting heavy objects. Remember to always bend at the knees when picking something off the floor, even a piece of paper. Your leg muscles then take the weight off your upper body and the object you're lifting. If the object you are carrying is heavy, hold it as close to your body as possible, keeping your elbows bent. Finally, always move straight ahead, never turn at the waist when holding something heavy.