Warm Up and Stretching

Stretches For Lower Back Pain Prevention And Treatment

A thorough warm up is absolutely essential to every workout and is important to loosen up muscles and prevent injury. You should follow your warm up with some gentle stretching. Do not force your stretches, just relax and let your body stretch as far as it can comfortably stretch.

Below are some examples of low-back stretches.

REMINDER: Consult your physician before beginning any exercise program. If pain develops, stop immediately and notify your physician.

Components of a Good Exercise Routine

Leg Stretches

Double and Single Leg Pulls

Lay flat on your back. Keep your left leg straight and bend your right leg. Grab your right knee and gently pull it towards your chest. Repeat for the other leg. For double leg, grab both knees and pull towards your chest.

Stiff-Legged Pull-Ins

This is similar to Stretch 1 but your leg is now straight. Grab the back of your leg behind your knee and pulling that towards your chest.

Double Toe Touch

Stand straight up with feet together. Slowly and gently lower your arms down and reach for your toes. You will bend at the waist for this stretch. Keep your knees close to straight and you can have a slight bend at the knees. Hold stretch for 10-30 seconds.

Crossed-Leg Toe Touch

Similar to Double Toe Touch. Place your right foot on the other side of your left foot. Bend at the waist and reach for your toes. You will have a slight bend at the knees. Be careful with this stretch because you will be off balance. Stand next to something you can grab onto if you lose your balance.

Back Stretches

Seated Cross-Over Leg Stretch

Sit on your butt with legs straight and together. Bend your right leg and place your right foot on the left side of your knee, keeping your left leg straight. With your left hand, reach as far back as possible behind you and place your hand firmly behind you. Take your right elbow, place it on the left side of your left knee and gently twist your upper body as if you are trying to look behind yourself. Hold for 10-30 sec and repeat on the other side.

Precore Low Back Stretch

Sit on the machine and place your hands in the safety straps. Grab the top rail with your palms facing the ground and gently ease your body to the floor leading with your butt.

Precore Upper Back Stretch

Sit on the machine and place your hands in the safety straps. Grab onto the bottom rail with your palms facing up. Gently ease your body to the floor leading with your butt.

Laying Twisting Stretch

Lay flat on the ground with both legs straight and arms by your side. Put your right elbow on the ground on your right side. Take your straight right leg and extend it across your body over your straight left leg. Hold for 10-30 seconds and repeat with the left leg.

Groin Stretches

Buddha Stretch

Sit on the ground and bring your feet together in front of you, bottoms of your feet touching. You want your heels as close to your pelvic area as possible. Grab your toes with both hands and pull in on your feet while pushing your legs down toward the floor with your elbows.

Precore Groin/Hip Stretch

This stretch is very similar to Groin Stretch 1. Sit on the machine and place your hands in the safety straps. Bring your feet in towards your pelvic area. Place the bottoms of your feet together and bring your heels as close to your pelvic area as possible. Grab the bottom rail with your palms facing down and gently ease your body towards the floor leading with your butt.

Butt/Hip Stretch

Sit down. Keep your left leg straight and bring your right foot in towards your pelvic area. With your left hand, grab the right side of your right foot and with your right hand, grab the shin of your right leg. Gently pull your foot towards your stomach.