Strong abdominal muscles are very crucial as strong back muscles for supporting the low back and preventing low back pain. Strong quadriceps is important to prevent back injuries while lifting.

Shortened muscle can make the spine out of alignment and causes back pain. Stretching exercises lengthen shortened muscles and relieve back pain. Tight back muscles, tight buttock muscles, tight hamstrings or quadriceps can affect the alignment of the spine. Stretching the back with stretching exercises increases mobility of the joints of the spine. Strong and flexible muscles help maintain proper posture and prevent back strain.

Motor control exercises, when performed in addition with other forms of therapy reduce pain and disability in patients with persistent low back pain. In addition to reducing pain it helps to be physically more active and experience positive effects. It is also called as stabilization exercises. These exercises help in regaining control over trunk muscles which support and control spine.

One of simple back exercises is pelvic tilt. Lie on your back with the feet flat and knees bent. Keep your legs together and cross the arms over the chest and then tilt the pelvis and push the low back to the floor. Slowly lift the buttocks off the floor as far as you can without straining the muscles. Maintain the position for 5 seconds; slowly lower the buttocks back to the floor.

The comphrensive program for the back should include three elements: stretching, aerobics and strengthening exercises. Stretching exercises are good to maintain the flexibility. It helps to relieve the pain. It prevents future injuries or pains. They help to avoid stiffness and weakness. Stretching exercises is essential, but doing correctly is important. The spine comprising of muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones is designed to move side to side and front to back to carry the body weight. This can be achieved by stretching exercises of neck and back which help the muscles and ligaments flexible

Tips before starting stretching exercises:

• Stretching exercises must be done before or after a workout.
• They should be slow and consistent.
• Do not hold the stretch for more than 20 seconds.
• Take a deep breathe. Do not hold the breath.
  Stretch on both sides of the body and for the same amount of time.
• Only do the exercises which do not increase the symptoms.

Stretching exercises for back:

Helps to keep the back muscles and other supporting tissues flexible and les prone to injury.

• Back flexion stretch: Lie on back. Pull both knees to the chest while simultaneously bending the head forward until comfortable stretch is felt in a balled-up position.
• Knee to chest stretch: Lie on back with the knees bent and both heels on the floor. Place both hands behind one knee and pull it to the chest until a comfortable stretch is felt.
• Standing hamstring stretch: Stand with the feet flat on floor. Bend forward at the waist with arms hanging down and with legs straight. Try to touch the toes until a stretch is felt in the hamstring.

Aerobic exercises for back are walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming. These exercises condition the heart and other muscles, maintain health and speed recovery.

Strengthening exercises:

Focuses on back, abdomen and leg muscles. Knee to chest exercises, curl-ups, hamstring stretches are some of them.

Some exercises can aggravate back pain. If you have low back pain avoid:

• Straight leg sit-ups.
• Bent leg sit-ups or partial sit-ups (curl-ups) when you have acute back pain.
• Lifting both legs while lying on your back (leg lifts).
• Lifting heavy weight above the waist.
• Toe touches while standing.