Back Pain Exercises – The Way to a Pain Free Back?

Non specific back pain affects about eighty percent of us at some point in our lives. This is the type of back pain, usually but not always lower back pain, which just seems to come out of nowhere. It will not be caused by a specific injury or disease but is more likely caused by lifestyle; too much sitting, too little exercise or the wrong type of exercise.

When our ancestors lived in caves, we were a lot more active than we are now. Our activity was a lot more varied meaning that we exercised a much wider range of muscles. Modern life where we can spend a lot of time sitting is not good for our backs. I can virtually guarantee that if you suffer from back pain, you will stretch painfully whenever you stand, ironing out the kinks in your back as you straighten up.

So, if lack of exercise and the resulting poor posture is the cause of non-specific back pain, and many other back conditions, it should hardly come as a surprise that back pain exercise is the best way to sort it out.

Most of us know that, even if we choose to do nothing about it.

But, it needs to be the right sort of exercise using a wide range of muscles. The spine is a very complex piece of machinery; there are a huge number of muscles that are involved when we bend our backs. Every movement that we make puts a load on your back.

The major leg muscles (gluteus maximus) attach to the bottom of the back. Move your legs and your back moves with it. Your neck is a direct extension of your back and even your arms share muscles with the back.

So, bearing that in mind, it is logical to assume that if we can get our back in shape our whole health will improve. It also follows that exercising our limbs will also exercise our back.

A lot of people who suffer with a bad back try doing stomach muscles, thinking that strengthening their abdominal muscles will support their backs. To some extent they are right, stronger abs will help, but that is only part of the picture. Strengthen your abdominal muscles without balancing that by balancing back muscles will lead to a further imbalance and possible injury.

So exercises need to be balanced, developing all the muscles that are involved in back movement.

Yoga and Pilates exercises are based on the principle of developing core strength, focusing on control and flexibility. Each exercise is designed to exercise a broad range of muscles to develop balance within the body. People who practice Yoga or Pilates two or three times a week experience a number of benefits; reduced back pain, deeper breathing with improved lung capacity, improved flexibility and circulation, better coordination and balance as well as improved core strength. It has also been shown to help with weight loss and stress control.

The other great thing is that all you need is an exercise mat and a couple of square yards of floor space.

If you found this article useful and would like more information on back pain exercise visit my blog at:

http://www.apainfreeback.blogspot.com

I was back pain sufferer for many years before discovering the cure. I have since developed by blog to let others know how to rid themselves of back pain.

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