Low back pain: Exercises to reduce pain

Exercises that may help reduce or prevent low back pain include:

• Aerobic exercise, to condition your heart and other muscles, maintain health, and speed recovery.
• Strengthening exercises, focusing on your back, stomach, and leg muscles.
• Stretching exercises, to keep your muscles and other supporting tissues flexible and less prone to injury.

Some exercises can aggravate back pain. If you have low back pain, avoid:

• Straight leg sit-ups.
• Bent leg sit-ups or partial sit-ups (curl-ups) when you have acute back pain.
• Lifting both legs while lying on your back (leg lifts).
• Lifting heavy weights above the waist (standing military press or bicep curls).
• Toe touches while standing.

Continue to Why is it important to do exercises for low back pain?

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