On a spa vacation focusing on the musculoskeletal system, 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. In this way, a health vacation will literally put you back in shape - and in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, you'll be in fantastic surroundings to boot.

Get fit with the power of nature

Natural remedies such as moor or brine are part of the therapy plan in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 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 the health insurance.

Moor baths

In the case of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, mud packs and thick mud baths support the healing process. With its valuable ingredients, the well-known mud has an anti-inflammatory and thus 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 applications with cold or heated mud. For example, inflammatory joint pain can be treated well with cold mud packs, while certain back pain can be treated with warm mud packs.

Brine baths and floating

Many places in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offer thermal or seawater swimming pools with salty water. The separate brine pools contain water with a salt content of at least 1.5 percent to promote circulation and relieve inflammation. When the water reaches a salinity of about 20 percent, the body experiences tremendous buoyancy in this strong brine, which makes floating baths, or floating, possible. Weightless floating has a relaxing effect on all muscle groups and at the same time relieves pain in diseases of the back, spine and joints.

Aqua gymnastics

Aquagymnastics is a particularly gentle form of physical activity despite back pain, aching joints or ligaments. In the pleasantly tempered water, the natural buoyancy reduces one's own body weight and thus relieves the entire musculoskeletal system. This way, strength and flexibility can be trained under the expert guidance of a therapist, even if your back, joints or neck are aching. In addition, aqua gymnastics, which is easy on the joints, 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 conditions. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with its predominantly flat landscape, invites you to go on cycling or hiking tours that do not overtax you and can therefore be managed comfortably. Well-developed cycling and hiking trails lead through unspoiled countryside and dense forests, past manor houses and fieldstone churches or connect the highlights in the national parks on the Bodden, lake district and Baltic coast. Hiking and biking can relieve back pain and joint pain because exercise releases tension, strengthens muscles and revitalizes the entire organism.

Strengthen muscles and improve mobility

Defy movement pain

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offers a wealth of therapy options for musculoskeletal disorders, from back training to pain therapy. Floating, hiking or cycling tours can usefully support the recovery process during a health vacation.

Cycling on 21 cycle routes

If you explore the varied landscapes of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on a bicycle, you will strengthen your back muscles and stabilize your spine at the same time. In addition to nine long-distance cycle routes that crisscross 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-Western Pomerania

In various places in the state, you can relax and regenerate in weightlessness while floating. Floating in warm water, joints, lumbar vertebrae and muscles are noticeably relieved, so that you hardly feel any pain while bathing:

• Rest Pole Rostock
• Hotel Meerlust
• Design Hotel Ceres by the sea
• Spa and wellness hotel Mönchgut
• 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.