Lumbar Exercises
Lumbar Exercises
Abdominal Crunches:
An abdominal crunch is a specific exercise that targets the muscles of your abdomen. Many patients are weak in this area. By strengthening these muscles, you provide greater lumbar support...
Learn MoreAbdominal Plank:
The abdominal plank is a very difficult exercise, but very effective and improving the strength of the abdomen. The plank challenges you to activate and contract your abdominal muscles at a strong enough intensity to prevent a bending of your lower back towards your support surface...
Learn MoreBicep curls:
You might be confused to see a bicep curl within a lumbar exercise prescription. The bicep curl in this case is not meant for strengthening the biceps, but instead prescribed to increase the strength...
Learn MoreBridging:
For a patient with lower back pain, the bridging exercise works to increase the strength and stability of the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back extensor musculature....
Learn MoreCat / Cow Stretch:
The purpose of the cat / cow stretch is to improve the range of motion of the lumbar and thoracic spine and also promote flexibility of the muscles that cross over the joints of the vertebral column in this region...
Learn MoreClamshell Isotonic (Up & Down):
A clamshell isotonic is performed for anyone with a lower back, hip, knee, or ankle problem. It is an important exercise to improve hip stability, which affects the stability and functions of the lumbar....
Learn MoreClamshell Hold:
This exercise asks the you to hold your hip and knee in the clamshell position for one minute. If this is not possible, simply hold as long as you can and stop the timer when you lower your leg...
Learn MoreFire Hydrant (quadruped):
Many patients with a low back problem also have hip and pelvic weakness. The quadruped fire hydrant is an excellent exercise to address the weakness of the gluteal musculature, specifically the gluteus maximus...
Learn MoreHamstring Stretch:
This describes the hamstring stretch exercise, typically performed in physical therapy to improve hamstring, flexibility, restore pelvic mobility, and improve lumbar stability in proper lumbar posture.
Learn MoreHip Abduction Hold:
A hip abduction hold is performed to increase the awareness of the contraction of the gluteus medius, which is the target muscle of the exercise. ..
Learn MoreHip Flexor Stretch (supine):
A hip flexor stretch is performed to increase the extensibility of the hip flexor musculature as it attaches to the anterior pelvis. A person with tight hip flexors will often present ...
Knee to Chest (single and double):
This video describes the knee to chest exercise as performed in physical therapy to help a person with a lower back pain as a result of injury or degenerative change.
Learn MoreLower Abdominal Exercise:
The lower abdominal exercise is prescribed to those patients with lower back pain, who also have weakness in their abdomen...
Learn MoreLower Trunk Rotation (LTR):
lower trunk rotation exercises performed to increase the range of motion of your lumbar spine, but also to improve the strength of the deep muscles that connect to your lumbar vertebral column.
Learn MorePaloff Press:
The Paloff Press is a valuable exercise for patients with lower back pain. This exercise is effective because it strengthens the muscles that rotate your vertebral column...
Learn MorePelvic Bracing (prone):
Prone pelvic bracing, much like supine pelvic bracing is designed to help you recognize the optimum position of your pelvis and lower back ...
Learn MorePelvic Bracing (supine):
A lot of patients with lower back pain have difficulty maintaining their pelvis in a neutral posture during activities such as sitting, standing and walking...
Piriformis Stretch:
The piriformis is a very problematic muscle located in the deep gluteal region. In many patients, this muscle is directly over the sciatic nerve. Therefore, tightness in this muscle ...
Learn MorePrayer Stretch:
The prayer stretch is a good exercise for multiple parts of your body. It can help improve your hip joint and gluteal muscle flexibility, your lumbar flexibility, and also improve the flexibility of the muscles of your chest and anterior shoulder...
Learn MoreProne Lying, Propping and Press Ups:
The prone lying, propping, and press up series of exercises are good for someone with low back pain due to a flat, straight or slouched low back posture in their low back...
Learn MoreQuadratus Lumborum (QL) Stretch:
The quadratus lumborum stretch targets a muscle located between your pelvis and rib cage on the side of your body. Stretching this muscle allows for greater rotation range of motion...
Learn MoreRows:
A rowing motion not only works to strengthen your upper back and shoulders, but also your lower back as well. It accomplishes this due to the fact that as you pull back against a resistance...
Learn MoreSeated Deadlift:
Poor lifting technique is one of the main contributing factors to lower back pain. A seated dead lift is prescribed to increase the strength of the lower back region and improve lifting technique...
Learn MoreShoulder Extension:
Shoulder extension is often prescribed for those with lower back pain due to the effects of this exercise on strengthening the abdomen. When pulling in a downward motion...
Learn MoreShoulder Horizontal Abduction:
A shoulder horizontal abduction exercise is a great way of strengthening the muscles of the posterior shoulder and vertebral border of your shoulder blade in patients with weakness in these areas...
Learn MoreSit to stand (squats) with hip dominant strategy:
Sit to Stand with a Hip Dominant Strategy
Learn MoreStraight Leg Raise (SLR) Abduction:
The hip abduction isotonic is performed to increase the strength and endurance of the gluteus medius muscle...
Learn MoreStraight Leg Raise (SLR) Adduction:
The hip adduction straight leg raise (SLR) can be used to help patients with a back problem, hip problem, or knee problem...
Learn MoreStraight Leg Raise (SLR) Extension
A prone hip extension exercise is performed to increase the strength and stability of the gluteals, hamstrings,and to the lower back region...
Learn MoreStraight Leg Raise (SLR) Flexion:
A straight leg raise exercise targets the anterior thigh muscles that flex the hip or extend the knee...
Supine Transverse Abdominis (TA)
The Transverse Abdominis (TA) is a deep abdominal muscle that has attachments to the ribs, thoracolumbar fascia and pelvis. It is an important muscle for lumbar stability and is often weak. Strengthening this muscle helps to increase lumbar stability.
Triceps Press:
The triceps press targets the muscles of the posterior arm (triceps). This exercise is also useful for improving mid and lower back stability. The resistance of this exercise would cause you to lean forward without appropriate activation of your mid and lower back muscles to help you remain in good posture...