| Copyright (c) 2009 Nancy Rishworth | | | | regimen. |
| Do you have lower back pain? You have lots of | | | | Back exercises are greatly aided with the addition |
| company - Americans spend approximately $50 | | | | of flexibility programs. Whether you are |
| billion each year on pain relief for back pain. Lower | | | | incorporating some stretching exercises, yoga, or |
| back pain is one of the most common back | | | | pilates, these exercises help you stretch your |
| ailments - it's a leading cause of missed work. You | | | | muscles. When you stretch your muscles, you |
| don't have to let the pain control your life. Back | | | | actually lengthen them. This helps improve your |
| exercises can give you increased flexibility and | | | | posture. |
| allow you to live pain-free without medication. | | | | Flexibility programs are also great methods for |
| Back exercises improve strength of the core | | | | relieving the pain. Stretching exercises help |
| muscles, those muscles that support your back, | | | | develop flexibility in the spine. Stretching may be |
| your abdominal muscles, and your legs. This group | | | | one of the most important methods for easing |
| of muscles is also responsible for your posture. | | | | the pain. Simple stretching exercises release some |
| With flexibility programs, you can strengthen | | | | of the tension in lower back muscles. When you |
| those core muscles and eliminate or reduce your | | | | release muscle tension, you eliminate the tightness |
| lower back pain. | | | | and possible muscles spasms. |
| Many exercises improve the strength of core | | | | Another great option for lower back exercises is |
| muscles. A regular program of resistance training | | | | to incorporate a Swiss exercise ball, or an |
| (e.g., weights), walking, bike riding, swimming and | | | | inflatable exercise ball, in your routine. Working out |
| aerobic exercises will strengthen core muscles. | | | | with these fitness balls, or simply using them in |
| But adding flexibility programs, core stability and | | | | flexibility programs, helps you develop greater |
| therapeutic exercises is one way to add even | | | | core strength as you try to stabilize yourself on |
| more value to your exercise routine. | | | | the ball. |
| The first stage of lower back exercises is to | | | | Lower back pain doesn't have to stop you from |
| slowly work on building abdominal and core | | | | enjoying your life. When you work to incorporate |
| strength. Exercises such as abdominal crunches, | | | | these exercises into your routine, as well as |
| pelvic tilts, and leg lifts all help to strengthen the | | | | stretching and flexibility, you enjoy a life with a |
| core muscle group. Gradually, you can add more | | | | significant reduction in pain. |
| challenging exercises, such as squats to your | | | | |