Back pain is not as uncommon as you may think. Increasingly our lifestyles are placing a great strain on our backs.
Pressure and stress are all too common symptoms of the hectic lives we lead. Unfortunately they can contribute to back and neck pain as we physically and emotionally tense and round up our shoulders.
In addition, we continue to work (a lot of us) in environments where we sit for long periods of time, mainly at desks glued to our computer. For some people, sitting in a chair for 40 hours plus per week is the fastest way to develop back pain that seriously hurts! And what’s worrying is that for some people, they have never even experienced back pain before; they have never had lower back pain, shoulder issues or neck pain, but suddenly notice these symptoms coming on. Even if the symptoms don’t last for very long, they can start affecting people on a daily basis.
The worst part is that when you do get lower back pain, it can seem so hard to get rid of. You try adjusting your posture and it still hurts. You try rubbing it or massaging it or stretching it out quickly – and yet it still hurts.
You try getting up and walking around and then it hurts again ten minutes later. It can be incredibly frustrating.
So here are some exercises you can do right now for lower back pain relief.
Exercises For Your Lower Back
The underlying premise is simple: you’re experiencing pain because of chronic inactivity and stress and this weakens certain muscles and tightens others. So here are two effective exercises that we know work. (Even famous celebrities and professional athletes do these to manage their back pain)
Exercise one – (Duration: 5-10 minutes)
How to do it:
- Lie on your back with both legs bent at right angles either on a chair or block
- Rest your hands on your stomach or lay with your arms out at the side below shoulder level, with your palms facing up
- Breathe from your stomach. Let the lower back relax.
- Hold the position for 5-10 minutes
Exercise two
How to do it:
- Lie on your back with one leg resting on a chair, with your knee bent at 90 degrees, while the other leg is extended straight out and resting on the floor.
- Make sure both legs are aligned with your hips and shoulders
- The foot of your extended leg should be propped upright to prevent it from rolling to one side
- Hold this position for a few minutes then do the same on the other side.
Exercise three
Make sure you move and walk even if you can only manage 10 minutes at a time. Try and do a 10 minute walk 3 times a day.
We do recommend that you always consult your health care professional before beginning any exercise programme.
