Lower Back Pain Exercises: Pain Relief and Strengthening

Eighty percent of all adult Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives, and lower back pain is the more common type suffered.  In most cases this is pain caused by mistral strain, injury, or even just overuse of the back.   Once the acute pain has passed and the injury has healed, it is important for the individual to begin a program of lower back exercises that will help to strength the muscles of the core and support the lower back.  Doing these exercises will help to avoid a similar injury in the future.  There are many different exercises to try, but you should try to incorporate exercise that are for the whole body and also benefit the lower back. 

Aerobic Activity 

Aerobic activity is a great exercise for the whole body, not just the lower back.  It is a key ingredient to maintaining a healthy weight, which will put a lot less stress on your lower back.  This type of exercise will also keep your heart healthy, which is an added benefit.  You should begin with aerobic activity that is lower impact and for short periods of time.  Over time you can gradually increase the duration and the intensity. 

Strengthening 

Another great lower back exercise are those that strengthen all of the muscles of your core.  You should attempt to do strengthening exercises in the presence of a trainer or physical therapist so you are sure that you are not causing more injury to your lower back.  You should not just work the areas of the back when you are focusing on strength, you should also focus on your abdomen as these muscles support the lower back and will help keep you injury free in the future. 

Stretching 

Stretching is also an important lower back exercise that will give you increased flexibility that comes with a decreased chance of injury in the future.  Gentle stretching should be the focus. 

You may like lower back pain exercises of this nature because they are not only done to avoid injury, they can also be done to alleviate current pain!  When stretching for lower back pain exercise, be sure that you are stretching appropriately and not just furthering any injury you currently have.