Most back pain is due to muscle weakness. Therefore, increased strength is the answer to almost every back problem. If you develop a back problem, chances are good that you will wind up on a regimen of daily stretching and strengthening exercises to recondition your back.
A back-strengthening program needs to work on both the muscles that pull the back forward and down (flexion exercises) and the muscles that lift your trunk into an upright position (extension exercises). You need strong, flexible muscles around the lower back and abdomen to stabilize your spine and protect it from injury.
A Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Most back pain is due to muscle weakness. Therefore, increased strength is the answer to almost every back problem. If you develop a back problem, chances are good that you will wind up on a regimen of daily stretching and strengthening exercises to recondition your back.
A back-strengthening program needs to work on both the muscles that pull the back forward and down (flexion exercises) and the muscles that lift your trunk into an upright position (extension exercises). You need strong, flexible muscles around the lower back and abdomen to stabilize your spine and protect it from injury.