Here are some exercises you can do at home to help improve flexibility and help reduce the risk of back pain and injury.
These instructions are only intended as a guide. Those who self-diagnose and self-treat themselves with home exercises do so at their own risk. Before beginning any exercises, learn how simple movements can alleviate back pain by visiting the anatomy lesson pages of this web site.
Advanced Back Stretch
This exercise is more difficult than it looks. Start on all fours. Raise your right leg backward, and raise your left arm up reaching in front of you. Hold for ten seconds. Go back to starting position. Repeat position with left leg and right arm. Do the exercise ten times alternating legs/arms
The Plow
This is an advanced yoga position called "the plow." It should be attempted ONLY after you are pain free and have mastered the simple back stretches involving extension and flexion. Start by lying on your back. Slowly raise both legs back over your head, using your outstretched arms to balance. Hold for 30 seconds and go back to starting position. Repeat ten times.
Press Up
Start by lying on your stomach. Begin to raise your upper body slowly, while keeping your pelvis flat to the floor. Try to create an arch in your low back. Go up only as far as you can without discomfort. Work up to the top position also known in Yoga as the Sphinx position. Then over several days, move on to the final position, with arms straight.
