Can weight training greatly increase my rehab time on my lower back strain?

Question

Im bored with stretches and balance balls. I know i will be more soar, but id like to lift weights and strengthen my core. (my doctor said my core was weak) Which is funny, because im physically fit and quite strong, just stiff as a bored. My backs been sore for 7 weeks now, cause i hate boring stretch exercises and end up doing very little. If i ride my bike, and lift weights, and swim, wont that strengthen me faster so i wont have that pestering fatigue and soreness? Whats the relationship between me working out my core, and how my "strained back" is supposed to heal. How often shoudl i work out with weights? (Dr said its ok)

Answer 1

Stretching or rest will not "heal" an injury and if it's been seven weeks the chances of a spontaneous/automatic healing are very low.

Working out will not heal it either while it maybe possible to avoid aggravating or re-injuring your back that will only be possible through  compensating for the weak location. Compensating will create a whole bunch of new problems to go with the original injury.

Read and apply http://www.helium.com/tm/148271 to get it over with and fix the damage.

Answer 2

If you choose to lift weights you should not go beyond light weights.  This, however, is not going to strengthen your core.  Activity is a great way to initiate the core and to help the back.  I do not do a lot of stretching with my back patients, but I do address the core a ton.  You need to slower progress your core exercises and not irritate your back.  

If you are doing rehab then definitely follow the plan, but you want to progress what you are doing.  If you are doing the same thing with no changes then you aren't progressing.  Even stretches should progress.  It also needs to be functional for what you do.  If you work in an office then you need to also address posture.  

I am sorry, but I don't prescribe to what a lot of doctors and physical therapists do.  I prefer a more functional, integrated approach.