Exercise Information

Lower Back Extension Exercise


This is an excellent exercise for the lower back that is very simple to perform. This exercise requires no equipment and it can be performed almost anywhere, even at your office. Many people neglect to do exercises that focus on your lower back. Your lower back, Erector Spinae, supports your upper body and affects almost every sport and every day activity that you do. It is important that you exercise this part of the body. The lower back extension is probably the best exercise for strengthening your lower back as well as eliminating or preventing lower back pain.

If you sit on a chair all day, you may be experiencing tight or sore back muscles. To eliminate these nagging minor pains, perform this exercise 2-3 times per week consisting of 2 sets of 15 repetitions. This is an exercise also recommended by chiropractors and doctors. I've also seen variations of this exercise done in Pilates and Yoga. If you do constantly have back pains, it is advisable that you consult with your doctor before attempting this exercise.

Method of Performance

Lie down on a mat or carpet with your stomach to the floor, keep your arms and hands flat at your sides and legs extended like in a standing position, but lying down. Slowly raise yourself up from your torso as far as you can go but do not over-extend. Just to the point where you feel comfortable and you are receiving the maximum benefit. Remember to tighten your buttocks when lifting yourself from the ground and concentrate on working the lower back. Now slowly lower yourself back to the floor. Don't forget to breathe. Do about 2 sets slowly consisting of 12-15 reps, 2 to 3 times per week.

Variations

This exercise can also be done on vertical benches or holding onto extra free weights. The exercise done on a vertical bench is much more difficult. Personally, I do not feel that it is necessary to perform this exercise on a vertical bench since doing it on the floor is just as effective and safer. Using a vertical bench may also put undue strain on your back.

For more exercises and video exercise demonstrations, visit PopularFitness.com

About the author:
Peter Kudlacz is the owner of PopularFitness.com where you can find online fitness and golf programs, exercise instruction guides, articles, resources and tips.


MORE RESOURCES:

Boston Globe

Reputed underboss seeks time to exercise
Boston Globe, United States - 12 hours ago
(Robert Spencer/Globe File Photo) By Milton J. Valencia Carmen "The Cheese Man" DiNunzio is looking for a bit of exercise and a good night's sleep. ...
Carmen “The Cheeseman” DiNunzio: Live and let diet Boston Herald
"CHEESEMAN" WANTS OUT WHYN
Reputed mob boss wants more exercise WHDH-TV
all 84 news articles


Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. Announces Exercise of Over-Allotment Option
FOXBusiness - 5 hours ago
Including the exercise of the over-allotment option, the net proceeds of the offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and Kodiak's ...


Great Western Minerals Group announces closing of early exercise ...
FOXBusiness - 6 hours ago
Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. ("GWMG" or the "Company") announces that the exercise period of the Company's early exercise warrant incentive program ...


Georgians exercise 'passive resistance'
USA Today - 4 hours ago
By Bela Szandelszky, AP By Jeffrey Stinson, USA TODAY TBILISI, Georgia — Irakli Petriashvili and a small group of fellow Georgians will confront the Russian ...
Russian troops slow to leave Georgia Christian Science Monitor
all 1,292 news articles


Exercise of employee share options in Revus Energy ASA
FOXBusiness - 6 hours ago
As a result of the exercise, the Board of Directors, following the authority approved in the Annual General Meeting, has resolved to increase the share ...


Economist

New film Five-finger exercise
Economist, UK - 13 hours ago
WOODY ALLEN’S 39th film, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, is being described as a return to form after three not very good years. In this romantic comedy, ...


BETTER HEALTH IS 80% NUTRITION - 20% EXERCISE
Ventura County Star, CA - 6 hours ago
Some of us have enough drive to hold together a good and nutritious diet as well as getting ourselves MOVING and keeping exercise as a priority. ...


Life support area gives troops ‘comfortable’ feel for weeklong ...
Stars and Stripes, DC - 6 hours ago
By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The more than 350 US troops in town for this week’s training exercise found "home" in a ...
Yongsan cabs still not ready Stars and Stripes
all 2 news articles


Training exercise to increase noise near Barksdale AFB
KSLA-TV, LA - 11 hours ago
A training exercise involving as many as a dozen B52 bombers which began early Thursday will resume Monday morning. A spokesperson for the 2nd Bomb Wing ...
Training exercise to increase noise near Barksdale AFB KSLA-TV
all 4 news articles


New York Times

Men, Women and Speed. 2 Words: Got Testosterone?
New York Times, United States - 1 hour ago
But for a variety of intrinsic biological reasons, the best women can never run as fast as the best men, exercise researchers say. Women are slower than men ...

Exercise - Google News

home | site map
© 2006