Can exercise cure a bulging disk?

Exercise helps relieve the symptoms of herniated disk, and other recommended treatments include pain medication, muscle relaxants and physical therapy, according to Mayo Clinic. People with this condition can also use hot or cold packs to relieve the pain, and in severe cases, surgery is needed.

Symptoms of a herniated disk include pain that travels down the leg, tingling in the leg, weakness or muscle pain, reports WebMD. Herniated disks are caused by age-related degeneration or injuries caused by heavy or improper lifting. The disks form little cracks, causing the gel inside to leak out. This makes the disk bulge and sometimes leads to a ruptured disk.