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Lower Back Exercise to Stop the Pain

By: Darvin J. Hooey ... Click on author's name for more of their articles

Why it Happens and How to Avoid It

There are two sides to the coin called back pain, two main culprits. The first cause is simply the amount of wear and tear the back goes through constantly. Sitting or standing, the back is under constant pressure. If you then add overuse to the mix, it’s amazing to me that more people aren’t troubled by back pain! Lack of lower back exercise is the second main cause. Of course, a medical reason may also be the reason for your back pain, but in this article we are only addressing the two causes you can realistically do something to avoid.

What about the first cause? What can you do? You can reduce the wear and tear on your back by placing less pressure on it and using it more appropriately. This means paying more attention to your posture! This is critical when you are sitting, standing or lifting. When standing there should be a natural curve forward in your back. It’s also critical to wear shoes with sufficient arch support. Lower back exercise will help with maintaining the proper curve, but if this doesn’t come natural to you, you will have to make a conscious effort to maintain this curve. When sitting, a good ergonomic chair is crucial! Most importantly, your chair should provide ample support for your back, to prevent it from curving the wrong way. When lifting, it’s critical to NOT bend at your waist. This forces your legs to do the work, rather than making your back do the work! Addressing the second main cause is simple… get more lower back exercise! These exercises will help you stretch and strengthen your back muscles, which can help with existing pain and help prevent future issues.

What Type of Exercises Work Best?

Both strengthening and stretching are important to avoiding back issues. Let’s address the strengthening issue first. There are quite a few exercises that work best with free weights or gym type machines or equipment. I personally prefer to workout at home, mostly without weights. However, I know that some people still insist on going to the gym, so here are a few select lower back exercises you can ask about at the gym the next time you visit:

- Deadlift
- Machine Back Extensions
- Exercise Ball Lower Back Extensions

There are others that draw on the lower back to a degree, but these focus on the lower back almost exclusively. Therefore, it is important to start off with little to no weight when doing the first two exercises.

With respect to stretching, there are plenty of basic and fad stretches you can do out there, but the most effective method I’ve found is centuries old! This method is called yoga. In my opinion, it is the most effective lower back exercise out there! Put simply, the series of poses that yoga consists of, safely stretch not only the lower back and other the rest of your muscles, but it also stretches your ligaments and tendons too. New students have reported increases in flexibility of more than 35% in as little as eight weeks!

I am not a doctor, but these exercises have made a world of difference for me…

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: If you truly wish to succeed at being in the best shape of your life, then you must visit the world's best resource. Go to Next Level Yoga at www.nextlevelyoga.com immediately, to see how easily it can be done with at home workouts!

Note: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Darvin J. Hooey

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