On a musculoskeletal spa vacation, experts diagnose the specific causes of your problems and provide targeted guidance and individual assistance as to which measures can provide you with relief or even a cure. This is how you can literally get back on your feet on a health vacation - and find yourself in a dreamlike setting in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to boot.

Get fit with the power of nature

Natural remedies such as moor or brine are part of the therapy plan in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for slipped discs, lumbago, back pain and other indications related to the musculoskeletal system. The costs for many of these treatments and for individual pain therapies are covered or partially subsidized by health insurance.

Moorbäder

Mud packs and thick mud packs support the healing process for musculoskeletal disorders. With its valuable ingredients, the well-known peat has an anti-inflammatory and therefore pain-relieving effect on joints, spine and muscles. Mud baths and packs also provide relief for back and neck pain and rheumatic complaints. Depending on the indication, there are treatments with cold or warm peat. For example, inflammatory joint pain can be treated well with cold peat packs, while certain back pain can be treated with warm peat packs.

Salt baths and floating

Many places in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offer thermal or seawater swimming pools with salty water. The separate saltwater pools contain water with a salt content of at least 1.5 percent to promote blood circulation and relieve inflammation. If the water reaches a salt content of around 20 percent, the body experiences enormous buoyancy in this strong brine, which makes floating possible. Weightless floating has a relaxing effect on all muscle groups and also relieves pain in the case of back, spine and joint disorders.

Aqua gymnastics

Aqua gymnastics is a particularly gentle form of physical activity despite back pain, aching joints or spasms. In water at a pleasant temperature, the natural buoyancy reduces your own body weight and thus relieves the entire musculoskeletal system. Under the expert guidance of a therapist, you can train your strength and flexibility, even if your back, joints or neck are aching. The joint-friendly aqua gymnastics also improves general fitness, activates the cardiovascular system and increases calorie turnover for increased fat burning.

Walking and cycling

Exercise supports the healing process for a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with its predominantly flat landscape, is ideal for cycling and hiking tours that are not too strenuous and are therefore easy to manage. Well-maintained cycle and hiking trails lead through unspoilt countryside and dense forests, past manor houses and stone churches or connect the highlights in the national parks on the Bodden, Lake District and Baltic Sea coast. Hiking and cycling can alleviate back and joint pain, because exercise relieves tension, strengthens the muscles and revitalizes the entire body.

Strengthen muscles and improve mobility 

Defy movement pain

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offers a wide range of therapy options for musculoskeletal disorders, from back training to pain therapy. Floating, hiking or cycling tours can provide useful support for the recovery process on a health vacation.

Cycling on 21 circular cycle routes

Exploring the varied landscapes of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on a bike strengthens the back muscles and stabilizes the spine at the same time. In addition to nine long-distance cycle routes that cross the state, a total of 21 signposted circular tours offer the best views of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Some of these adventure tours are suitable for day trips, others can be easily divided into stages.

Floating in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

You can relax and regenerate by floating in weightlessness at various locations in the state. Floating in warm water provides noticeable relief for joints, lumbar vertebrae and muscles, so that you hardly feel any pain when bathing:

• Ruhepol Rostock
• Hotel Meerlust
• Design-Hotel Ceres am Meer
• Ringhotel Villa Margarete

Gentle exercise helps with back pain

It seems like a contradiction, but bed rest is not recommended for lumbago, back or neck pain. Instead, medically prescribed walking, hiking or light stretching and strengthening exercises are the order of the day. However, proceed cautiously and stop when the pain increases.

Exercise is the best medicine

Scientific studies show that exercise is one of the most important therapies for pain in joints or the spine. Even with osteoarthritis, a painful disease of the articular cartilage caused by wear and tear, you should by no means take it easy. Exercise promotes muscle development around the joints and also stimulates the formation of synovial fluid. In addition, movement supports the distribution of joint fluid to cartilage and intervertebral discs. Unnatural relieving postures to avoid acute pain, however, often lead to aching joints or further consequential problems due to incorrect loading. Therefore, sports that are easy on the joints, such as swimming, dancing, hiking, Nordic walking or cycling, are particularly suitable. Mountain biking or ball sports, on the other hand, should be avoided if you have joint problems.

The common complaint of back pain

Current studies show that around 80% of adults in Germany have suffered from back pain at least once in their lives. This makes low back pain one of the most common complaints. In a survey conducted by telephone in 2009/10, one in four women and one in six men stated that they had suffered from persistent back pain for at least three months within the last year. In addition, the frequency of chronic back pain increases with age. However, this often involves more than "just" pain in the back. Osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, depression and obesity are considered common comorbidities of chronic back pain.

Prescription for exercise

The German Society for Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP), the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the German Medical Association developed the "Prescription for Exercise" as a joint initiative. Issued by a physician, the prescription is intended as an orientation aid for an active everyday life. Binding quality criteria ensure that the recommended exercise programs are relevant and suitable. Health programs certified with the "Sport pro Gesundheit" quality seal support patients preventively or in the healing process, even with specific musculoskeletal complaints. The course costs for the issued prescription usually have to be paid by the patient. Nevertheless, there is the possibility that selected courses are subsidized by the health insurance. Further information can be found under the heading Health Sports on the website of the Landessportbund MV.