Exercises to Strengthen Your
Back
These exercises are designed to strengthen your back.
The exercises on this webpage are intended for chiropractic patients only and should not be undertaken without the approval, instruction and monitoring of your Doctor of Chiropractic. Andrew Bayuk, D.C. is not responsible for any injury or illness arising from performing or attempting to perform these exercises.
Advanced Back Exercise Program
Your 15 Minute Workout
By doing your 15 minute workout 3-5 times per
week, you can condition the muscles and joints that support your back and keep
it in healthy balance throughout the day. Strengthening exercises help build
strong muscles, while stretching exercises increase flexibility. Begin each
group of exercises from the starting position indicated, and follow the sequence
shown. Don’t strain or rush. Relax and breathe.
Do not do any exercises that cause pain.
The Starting Position Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Try to feel your whole back on the floor. Breathe deeply, expand your lungs, and rest your hands on your pelvis. You should feel comfortable and relaxed. |
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Pelvic Tilt This stretches the back muscles and strengthens the stomach muscles.
Tighten your abdomen and buttock muscles. Press your
lower back onto the floor (a small and subtle movement). Hold 5 seconds,
release. Repeat 8 times. |
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Lower Back Rotation This stretches and strengthens the back rotation muscles.
Drop both knees to one side while rotating your head to
the opposite side. Hold 5 seconds. Repeat 8 times, alternating sides |
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Double Leg Pull Gently pull both knees to your chest. Hold 5 seconds, the return to the start position. Repeat 8 times at first and build up to 20 repetitions.
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Hip Lift Strengthens the buttock muscles. Without arching
your back, slowly raise your hips upward. Make it a straight line from knees
to shoulders. Hold for 5, lower, repeat 8 times. |
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Partial Curl ups Strengthens abdominal muscles. Cross your arms
loosely, and tuck your chin in. Tighten your abdomen and curl halfway up
directly in front of you. Hold for 5, curl down, repeat 8 times. |
SUB-ACUTE STAGE
(These exercises are to be performed in addition to those
suggested during the acute stage.)
Starting Position On your hands and knees, keep our knees directly under your hips and your hands directly under your shoulders. Keep the abdomen slightly firm, so your spine stays in neutral. Keep your neck relaxed in its natural curve so that your ears are aligned with your shoulders. |
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Back Press This exercise strengthens abdominal muscles and buttocks and stretches your back. Press your back upward by tightening your
abdominal and buttock muscles at the same time. Allow your head to drop
slightly keeping your hands and knees still. Hold for 5 seconds, return to
the start position, do 8 times. |
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Back Release This stretches your back muscles. Allow your
stomach and the muscles of your buttocks to |
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Arm Reach Strengthens your shoulders and upper back.
Stretch one arm straight out in front of you. Don’t raise your head and
don’t let your back sag. Hold for 5 seconds, return to the start position,
do 8 times. Alternate arms. |
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Leg Reach Strengthens the muscles of your buttocks. Extend
one leg straight out behind you and hold it parallel |
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Starting Position Stand with your hips and buttocks slightly tucked under and your shoulders relaxed. Your feet should be slightly apart and directly under your hips. Keep your eyes and chin level, focus directly in front of you. Use your stomach and buttock muscles to do a slight pelvic tilt. Standing, feel all three curves of your spine balanced in neutral. |
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Wall Slide Strengthens the back, hip, and leg muscles. With
your back against the wall, legs slightly apart, |
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Calf Stretch Stretches the calf muscles. Feet slightly apart,
bend your front leg, keeping the |
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Hamstring Stretch Stretches the hamstrings and lower back. Put 1
foot up on a chair. Keep the elevated leg and |
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Starting Position Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Your weight should be slightly forward so that your balanced on the 2 prominent bones under your buttocks. Relax your shoulders and keep your head level to maintain all 3 natural curves. |
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Side Stretch Stretches the muscles in your back and side.
Stretch your arm overhead and slowly bend to the opposite side. Don’t twist. |
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Full Back Release Stretches the back and buttock muscles. Relaxing
your neck, curl down slowly. “Hang” for a count of 5 and curl up slowly.
Tighten your abdominals and use your back muscles. Bring your head up last.
Repeat 8 times. Return to start. |
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Neck Turn Stretches the neck muscles. Tuck your chin in,
keeping your eyes level, rotate your head so that your looking over 1
shoulder. Hold for 5. Return to start. Do 8 times. Switch sides. |
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Neck Tilt Stretches the neck muscles. With shoulders
relaxed, tuck your chin in slightly. Tilt your head so that your ear is over
your shoulder. Hold for 5. Return to start. Repeat 8 times, switch sides. |
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Shoulder Shrug Stretches and strengthens the shoulder and upper back muscles.
Raise both of your shoulders as high as you can, as if
you were trying to touch your ears. Hold for 5, return to start. Repeat 8
times. |
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Single Leg Pull Stretches the hip, lower back and buttock muscles. Slowly pull a bent knee to your chest while keeping
the other knee and the lower back pressed against the floor. Hold for 5
seconds, return to the start position, do 8 times. Remember to breathe and
relax. |
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Straight Leg Raise Stretches the hips and hamstring muscles, and strengthens the quadriceps muscles. Keeping your lower back pressed against
the floor, raise the straight leg until its level with the bent knee. Hold
for 5 seconds, return to the start position, do 8 times. Switch legs. |
IMPORTANT:
Andrew Bayuk, D.C. is not
responsible for any injury or illness arising from performing or attempting to
perform these exercises. Ask your attending Physician or Doctor of Chiropractic
for approval before attempting these exercises.
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