Low Back Program Exercises

Exercise 1: Knee to Chest

Starting Position: Lie on your back on a table or firm surface.
Action: Clasp your hands behind the thigh and pull it towards your
chest. Keep the opposite leg flat on the surface of the table Maintain
the position for 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat.
Exercise 2: Pelvic Tilt
Starting Position: Lieon your back on a table or firm surface. Your feet
are flat on the surface and the knees are bent.
Action: Push the small of your back into the floor by pulling the lower
abdominal muscles up and in. Hold your back flat while breathing
easily in and out. Hold for five seconds. Do not hold breath.
Exercise 3: Hip Rolling

Starting Position: Lieon your back on a table or firm surface. Both knees bent,
feet flat on the table.
Action: Cross your arms over your chest. Turn your head (trunk) to the right as
you turn both knees to the left. Allow your knees to relax and go down
without forcing. Bring knees back up, head to center. reverse directions.

Exercise 4: Pelvic Lift

Starting Position: Lie
on your back on a table or flat surface. Your feet are flat
on the surface and your knees are bent. Keep your legs together Cross your
arms over your chest.
Action: Tilt your pelvis and push your low back to the floor as in the previous
exercise, then slowly lift your buttocks off the floor as far as possible without
straining. Maintain this position for 5 seconds. Lower your buttocks to the
floor Do not hold breath.
Exercise 5: Lower Abdominal Exercises

Starting Position: Lie on your back on a table or firm surface.

Knees bent and feet flat on the table. Flatten your back to the floor
by pulling your abdominal muscles up and in.
Action:
A.
B.
A. Bring one knee toward your chest. Hold this position for
____ seconds. Lower your leg to the starting position. Then
repeat on your opposite knee.
B. Bring one knee toward your chest. Straighten the knee Hold
for ____ seconds Slowly lower the leg to the starting
position. Repeat on opposite leg.
C. Raise your leg keeping your knee straight. Hold for ____
seconds. Slowly lower the leg to the floor. Repeat on the
opposite leg.

Maintain your pelvic tilt and keep your resting leg

relaxed at all times. Do not hold your breath.

C.
Exercise 6: Curl Ups
 A.

Starting Position: Lie on your back on a table or flat surface. Your feet are flat on the
surface and your knees are bent. Maintain your pelvic tilt for the curl up exercises.
Action:

A. Slowly reach your arms in front of you as much as possible, curling your trunk. B.
Slowly keep the neck muscles relaxed. Breathe normally. Slowly return to the
starting position. Do Not Cause Pain.
B. Fold your arms on your chest. Tuck your chin to your chest and slowly reach your
elbows to your knees, curling your trunk. Keep neck muscles relaxed and breathe
normally Return to the starting position.

C. With your hands behind your head, slowly curl your head to your chest and then
your trunk. Relax, breathe and then slowly return to the starting position.

C.
Exercise 7: Cat and Camel

Starting Position: Kneel down on the floor and assume the "all-four's" position. Keep your
head straight so that the gaze of your eyes is toward the floor.
Action: Slowly allow your trunk to sag as far as you can so that your back is arched Do no,
pull it down. but let it relax as you lift up your face towards the ceiling Then round your back
up at the waist as far as you can by contracting your lower abdominal muscles as you lower the
top of your head toward the floor. All motion should be initiated from your low back

Do Not Cause Pain.

Exercise 8: Tail Wagging

Starting Position: Kneelon a mat and assume the "all-four's" position

Keep your head in a neutral position by looking down at the floor.
Action: Keeping your shoulders still, move your right hip toward your
right shoulder as far as you can. Slowly return to the starting position
then move your left hip toward your left shoulder as far as you can

Exercise 9: Hip Extension

Starting Position: Assume they "all-four's" position.

Action: Bring one knee toward your head as you lower the head Extend the
head up and the leg out to a flat position parallel to the floor Return to the
starting position. Repeat, alternating legs.

Exercise 10: Hand-Knee Rocking

Starting Position: Kneelon a mat with your knees and ankles. Allow your
buttocks to rest on your heels.
Action: Take your upper body over so you are in a crouched position with your
arms stretched out in front of you. Relax in this position and then slowly move
forward with your elbows straight into a press-up position.

Exercise 11: Lying Prone In Extension

Starting Position: Lie
on your stomach on a mat with your weight on your
forearms.
Action: Lie on your stomach on a mat and lean on your elbows Stay in this
position for about _____, making sure that you relax your low back
completely.
Exercise 12: Press Up
Starting Position: Lie
on your stomach on a mat. Place your hands. palms
down, under your shoulders.
Action: Straighten your arms, raising your upper trunk off the floor. Keep
your pelvis against the mat, allowing your lower back to arch. Hold for
____ seconds. Return to starting position and repeat.
Exercise 13: Back Extension
Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on a mat. Place your arms at your
sides so . that your hands are by your hips.
Action: Raise your head and shoulders off the mat as high as
comfortably possible. Hold for ____ seconds. Lower the head and
shoulders. Do not tense your shoulder muscles.
Exercise 14: Arm Lifts
Starting Position: Lie
on your stomach on a mat. Stretch your arms
over head and slightly out to the side (in a V position).
Action: Lift one arm, with your hand positioned so that the thumb
points upward. Keep your thighs and your opposite arm relaxed.
Slowly lower your arm, then raise the other arm in the same
manner.
Exercise 15: Hip Extension
Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on a mat. Bend your knee to a 90 degree
angle so the sole of your toot faces the ceiling.
Action: Lift one thigh off the table approximately 6 inches by raising your foot
toward the ceiling. Your hip bones do not leave the table as you lift the leg.
Slowly lower your thigh back to the starting position.

Exercise 16: Knee Push Up

Starting Position: Lie
on your stomach on a mat. Place your hands, palms
down, on the mat at the level of your shoulders.
Pushing with your arms, lift your trunk and thighs off the surface of the mat
until your elbows are straight. Your knees should be bent, and your lower
legs and feet should be on the mat. Keep your back straight and do not let
your stomach sag.
Action: Slowly bend your elbows, lowering your trunk and thighs toward the
surface of the mat. Push away from the mat again, straightening your arms.
Exercise 17: Push Up
Starting Position: Lying on your stomach, place your hands, palms down, on
the floor at the level of your shoulders. Flex your toes so that the weight of
your body is shared by your hands and soles of your feet. Pushing with your
arms raise your trunk and legs off the floor. Keep your back straight and do
not let your stomach sag.
Action: Bend your elbows to lower your body halfway toward the floor then
push your body back by straightening your arms.
Exercise 18: Trunk Rotation

Starting Position: Assume the "all-four's" position.

Action:

A. Reach one arm under your body toward the opposite knee. Hold for ____ seconds. Slowly
return to the starting position. Repeat, alternating arms.

B. With weight on both hands, bring one knee towards the opposite shoulder. Hold for ____
seconds. Return to the starting position, Repeat, alternating knees.

Exercise 19: Full Back Release

Starting Position: Sit

in a chair with your feet flat. Relax your shoulders and
keep your head level. Your weight should be evenly distributed between
your buttocks and your feet.
Action: Relax your neck. Curl your neck, upper back and low back slowly
forward. Allow your hands to reach the floor so your palms are touching
the floor. Hold for ____ seconds. Straighten up slowly so that you bring
your head up last. Return to the starting position.
Exercise 20: Upper Back Stretch

Starting Position: Sit on a stool with your back flat against a wall.
Action: Lift your arms overhead, keeping your head and back flat against the wall. Hold
for ____ seconds. See if your shoulders can touch the wall while keeping your back flat,
Hold for ____ seconds. Lower your hands to the starting position.

Exercise 21: Side Bending

Starting Position: Stand
up straight with your arms at your sides and your feet shoulder
width apart.
Action: Bend your trunk to one side, by lowering your shoulder Run your hand down the
outside of your thigh. Hold for seconds. Slowly straighten up. Repeat to the opposite
side.

Exercise 22: Backward Bending

Starting Position: Standup straight with your feet shoulder width apart. Keep your knees as
straight as possible. Place your hands on your back firmly at your waist level.
Action: Bend backwards at your waist keeping the knees as straight as possible. Hold for ____
seconds. Return slowly to the upright position.

Exercise 23: Pectoralis Stretch

Starting Position: Stand

with your legs together facing a corner. Extend your arms and
place your palms against the opposite walls of the corner.
Action: Lean toward the corner. Keep your body and legs straight and your heels
firmly on the floor. Hold for ____ seconds. Return to the starting position. Repeat,
gradually increasing your distance from the comer.