Lower Back Exercises

When your back aches, you may just want to stay in bed. But relief is possible with a gentle workout. Try these lower back exercises.

Lower back pain affects about 80 percent of American adults. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, lower back pain is the leading cause of missed workdays. Pain in your lower back can be attributed to age-related changes of the spine, the result of an accident, or lifting something heavy.

Whether your lower back pain is short term or chronic, you can get relief with lower back exercises. These back pain exercises are designed to halt your aches and give you more flexibility.

These exercises take the stress off your lower back and hips. Just make sure that you stop exercising and talk to your doctor if you feel any pain. Exercise should be pain free.

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Easy-to-do lower back exercises

• Go for a swim. Swimming is one of the best exercises for lower back pain because the buoyancy of water takes stress off your joints. Swimming and water aerobics can also strengthen your back and core muscles due to the resistance of the water. A plus is that most indoor pools are heated or kept at a warm temperature.
• Take a walk. Start with a stroll and gradually pick up your pace. A brisk walk elevates your heart rate without putting pressure on your lower back.
• Ride a stationary bike. A stationary bike is usually designed so you are sitting upright as opposed to a reclining or recumbent bicycle. If you’re cycling outdoors, by contrast, the terrain can be uneven. If you hit a pothole or a bump in the road, it could negatively impact your back.
• Run on a treadmill. For the same reasons as using a stationary bike, a treadmill offers you an even surface that is kinder to your back than running outdoors.
• Lift weights. It sounds counterintuitive, but weightlifting done properly can strengthen back muscles. Before you pick up a barbell or other weight, talk to your doctor about whether it’s a smart idea. If you get the okay, start with a couple of pounds and gradually build up.
• Take a Pilates class. Pilates consists of low-impact flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance movements. It combines stretching, strengthening, and abdominal exercises. If you are new to Pilates, consider taking an introductory class and let your teacher know about your back pain. Some of the exercises may be hard on your back.
• Do yoga stretches. If your lower back pain is severe, avoid yoga. If you have occasional soreness, some yoga stretches can help soothe aching back muscles. As with all new exercise programs, tell the instructor about your back pain. He or she should know which positions will help and which ones will hinder.

Always talk to your doctor

Before you start any exercise program, talk to your doctor. You should also let fitness instructors know that you have a bad back. That way you won’t cause more harm.

When you are exercising, avoid bending exercises, like touching your toes, sit-ups, and leg lifts. Those exercises put a lot of stress on your lower back.

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