Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (2024)

Back exercises in 15 minutes a day

Back pain is a common problem that many people deal with every day. Exercise often helps to ease back pain and prevent further discomfort. The following exercises stretch and strengthen the back and the muscles that support it.

When you first start, repeat each exercise a few times. Then increase the number of times you do an exercise as it gets easier for you. If you're beginning an exercise program due to ongoing back pain or after a back injury, talk to a physical therapist or another member of your health care team about activities that are safe for you.

Knee-to-chest stretch

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor (A). Using both hands, pull up one knee and press it toward your chest (B). Tighten the muscles in your belly and press your spine to the floor. Hold for five seconds. Return to the starting position and repeat with the other leg (C). Go back to the starting position. Then repeat with both legs at the same time (D). Repeat each stretch 2 to 3 times. Do the full routine once in the morning and once in the evening if possible.

Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (1)

Lower back rotational stretch

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor (A). Keep your shoulders firmly on the floor, and slowly roll your bent knees to one side (B). Hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Slowly go back to the starting position (C). Repeat on the other side (D). Repeat each stretch 2 to 3 times. Do the full routine once in the morning and once in the evening if possible.

Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (2)

Lower back flexibility exercise

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor (A). Tighten the muscles in your belly so that your lower back pulls up, away from the floor (B). Hold for five seconds and then relax. Flatten your back, pulling your bellybutton toward the floor (C). Hold for five seconds and then relax. Repeat. Start with five repetitions a day and slowly work up to 30.

Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (3)

Bridge exercise

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor (A). Keep your shoulders and head relaxed on the floor and tighten the muscles in your belly and buttocks. Then raise your hips to form a straight line from your knees to your shoulders (B). Try to stay that way long enough to take three deep breaths. Go back to where you started and repeat. Begin by doing five repetitions a day and slowly work up to 30.

Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (4)

Cat stretch

Kneel on your knees and hands (A). Slowly arch your back, as if you're pulling your belly up toward the ceiling as you bring your head down (B). Then slowly let your back and belly sag toward the floor as you bring your head up (C). Go back to where you started (A). Repeat 3 to 5 times twice a day.

Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (5)

Seated lower back rotational stretch

Sit on an armless chair or on a stool. Cross your right leg over your left leg. Bracing your left elbow against the outside of your right knee, twist and stretch to the side (A). Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side (B). Do this stretch 3 to 5 times on each side twice a day.

Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (6)

Shoulder blade squeeze

Sit on an armless chair or on a stool (A). While sitting up straight, pull your shoulder blades together (B). Hold for five seconds and then relax. Do this 3 to 5 times twice a day.

Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (7)

Aug. 15, 2023

  1. Hartigan C. Exercise-based therapy for low back pain. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 19, 2023.
  2. Spine conditioning program. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/recovery/spine-conditioning-program/. Accessed April 19, 2023.
  3. Bydon M. Physical therapy. In: Back and Neck Health. Mayo Clinic Press; 2021.
  4. Dutton M. Lumbar spine. In: Dutton's Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 6th ed. McGraw Hill; 2022. https://accessphysiotherapy.mhmedical.com. Accessed April 24, 2023.

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Back exercises in 15 minutes a day (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you workout back everyday? ›

Is it OK to train back everyday? You shouldn't train the back everyday. Instead, it's best to train the back 1-2 times per week because the muscle fibres need 1-2 days of rest between sessions to get maximum potential for muscle growth.

What is the single best exercise for back pain? ›

Exercises for back pain
  • Knee rolls. ...
  • Pelvic tilts. ...
  • Single knee hug. ...
  • Double knee hug. ...
  • Cat camel.

How many times a day should I do back exercises? ›

When you lift weights and do back exercises to improve daily function, enhance muscle tone and create a leaner look, aim for two to three workouts that focus on your back weekly. Leave at least 48 hours between back training sessions; you get results when your muscle fibers have a chance to recover and repair.

What is the best back exercise of all time? ›

The best exercise for back muscle development is the classic Barbell Deadlift. It hits the traps, lats and lower back all in one exercise, and it can be overloaded to boost back development.

Can you train back too much? ›

You can experience overreaching after several consecutive days of hard workouts. Past this point, you will begin to experience overtraining syndrome as you train without resting. Many athletes take this decline in performance as a reason to train harder.

What is the number 1 back pain relief? ›

1. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 2. Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin)

Should I stretch my lower back if it hurts? ›

Fortunately, gentle stretches can counteract the effects of sitting to offer some temporary relief to lower back pain. Stretching elongates muscles, helps relieve stiffness and improves range of motion. Give these a try. Before you begin, talk to your doctor before stretching if you've had hip or back surgery.

When is the best time to do back exercises? ›

Back exercises are best done first thing in the morning. After being in bed all night your back can often be stiff and the exercises will help loosen you up as well as waking up the support muscles of the spine. And we have a simple back exercise routine that takes less than five minutes to do.

Which back exercise first? ›

EXERCISE 1: Bent-arm barbell pullover

This machine works very well as a first exercise for a back routine because of how it stretches your whole upper body, especially the lats. I feel that this exercise serves as a good warm up exercise to get your back ready for heavy lat pull downs and bent rows.

Is walking good for back pain? ›

Walking may strengthen your muscles, improve your posture, and stabilize your back. These benefits from walking can be crucial to managing back pain because they might help reduce flare-ups and prevent future episodes.

Which exercise is king of all exercise? ›

THE 'KING' OF ALL EXERCISES.

What is the number one exercise in the world? ›

1. Walking. Any exercise program should include cardiovascular exercise, which strengthens the heart and burns calories. And walking is something that most people can do anywhere, anytime, with no equipment other than a good pair of shoes.

What are 3 exercises that strengthen your back? ›

L'Italien recommends the "big three" exercises developed by Dr. Stuart McGill, an expert in spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo in Canada. They are the curl-up, the side plank, and the bird-dog. "These exercises engage all the important muscles needed to improve spine stability," says L'Italien.

Is it good to work out your back? ›

Strengthening your back muscles can help you perform everyday activities such as putting on your shoes or closing a window. Strong back muscles can also enhance athletic performance in activities such as swimming or climbing. erector spinae: extends and stabilizes your spine.

Is it OK to workout back to back days? ›

Having said that, recovery is a crucial part of muscle growth, so it's not wise to work the same muscle group on back-to-back days. In fact, you should allow at least 48 hours of recovery between working muscle groups, says Milton. This allows your muscles to repair and adapt so they become stronger.

Is 2 rest days in a row bad? ›

One of the 2 recovery days can be devoted to active recovery by moving with gentle activities. Try to plan one recovery day for every 2 to 3 days of training. Except after a competition or a very intense effort, it is ideal to avoid choosing 2 consecutive rest days.

Is it OK if I workout everyday? ›

Working out daily can lead to injuries, fatigue, and burnout. All of these things can cause you to abandon your fitness program altogether. Start slowly, and gradually increase the duration and intensity of any new exercise routine. Be aware of your body.

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