Exercise for Lower Back Pain
This is one of my favourite types of exercise for lower back pain
Level – moderate
See a video demonstration of this back stretching exercise below:
- On hands and knees
- Arch your lower back upwards ( a bit like the cat stretch in yoga)
- Don't rock forwards and backwards - your nose should stay pointing at the same place on the floor.
- Don't do press ups either - keep your elbows straight.
- Think about ‘tucking your tail in’ if you are having trouble with this.
- Make sure that you stretch your lower back and not just the area between your shoulder blades.
- Practice tightening your lower stomach muscles to increase the stretch in your lower back area.
- Stretch slowly and with good control.
- Get someone to check it for you to make sure you are doing it right.
I like this exercise because it has several effects.
- It moves your low back, stretching muscles and ligaments.
- Its good for tightening the abdominal or 'core stability' muscles.
- It helps teach you how to move your pelvis independently of your lower back - something many people with lower back pain have problems with.
This exercise can be paired with this back extension exercise to increase the amount of extension or backwards bend in your low back.
Watch a video:
Exercise for Lower Back Pain - Stretching Exercises Main Page
Lower Back Pain Toolkit Home Page
05-Sep-2008
