safe back exercise for herniated disc

[Mex]

Hi all,

My mother has a herniated disc in her lower spine, and always throws her back out when doing housework. The physical therapists tell her to do ab work (crunches, sit ups, etc) to help strengthen her core. I guess that makes sense, but she still has problems. So I cant help to think that she should find a way to directly work the lower back muscles too, and the increased back strength would make her work easier on her.

Do any of the trainers on here have any knowledge of this, or can point me to a place where the info is credible?

Thanks.

 

[5string]

Sound advice from her caregivers, ie ab crunches, sit ups, etc. I decided to respond to this as I have a friend in my office who had a slightly herniated disc at L5-S1. It was giving him problems so he went to a chiro. The chiro bent him into some contorted position while "adjusting" his low back and shattered the disc at L5-S1. He got a surgical consult and surgery is imminent. He knows it was the chiro as he had an MRI right before he went and then again after. Point being, she should be careful about who she lets treat her and how.