You may not realize it, but your lower back is of significant
importance. Consider what happens when
you tweak your back or sustain some sort of injury: it is often difficult to
move, and you find pain radiating through your spine, hips, buttocks, thighs and
other areas. It is often not until you
injure this area that you realize the role that your back plays in employing
flexibility, motion and heavy use throughout our everyday lives. Why not take the time to build strength in
this area just as you would for your legs or any other part of the body?
In addition to exercises,
there are common sense routines that you can practice on a daily basis. If you work in an office setting and your job
requires a lot of sitting, make sure to get up and walk around for a few
minutes every half hour or so. Studies
have shown that individuals who sit for eight hours or more a day have shorter
lifespans, so make the most of your day by walking as much as possible. If you have a pedometer handy, shoot for anywhere
between ten-thousand to thirty-thousand steps; you can start with ten minute
walks and work your way up to a half hour at a time.
One exercise that is
extremely efficient in working out the lower back muscles is called the “hip
bridge”. While lying face-up on the
floor, keep your knees bent in a comfortable position with your feet flat on
the floor. As you flex your abdominal
muscles, lift from your hips until there is a straight line between the knees
and shoulders. At the apex, hold for three seconds and then slowly return to
the starting position. Repeat the
exercise for a total of eight to ten times and complete it for two to three
sets. Put both of these plans into
action and you will undoubtedly be able to build your lower back strength bit
by bit.
If you suffer from back pain in New York City,
take the time to consult a professional and find long-term answers for your
nagging lower back injury.