Benefits Of Stretching For Back Pain

Stretching Toward A Pain Free Back

By Jarrett Kruse

It’s hard to overemphasize the benefits of stretching in relief of back pain. Most programs of back pain therapy include plenty of stretches, which are important not only to healing back pain, but to conditioning the body to avoid future injury and prevent back pain that can come from daily activity or sudden motion. Most back pain remedies, including over the counter back pain medicine as well as prescription drugs, focus on relieving immediate symptoms but not necessarily avoiding future injury. Whether relieving minor back pain or as part of a treatment for more serious back pain, stretching exercises are a step toward a lasting, pain-free back.

Stretching to relieve back pain and prevent back injury focuses on two main areas: improving flexibility and increasing range of motion. Stiffness and lack of flexibility can make you more vulnerable to back injury. Unexpected movement can cause muscle spasms or strains. Increased flexibility keeps you more limber and enables you to more easily deal with unexpected motion. Similarly, an increase in the range of motion enhances overall back health and lessens the chances of you throwing your back out in the course of daily activities, such as driving or working at a desk, that can sometimes stress the back. Some of the most common stretches for the back are:

  • Piriformis stretches—stretching the small muscles at the top of the back of your thigh to increase flexibility and avoid sciatica
  • Hamstring stretches—stretching the large muscle in the back of the thigh to increase lower back flexibility
  • Back extensions—lifting the head and chest while lying on the stomach. These stretch the muscles in the lower back
  • Shoulder blade stretches—pushing the shoulder blades toward each other while standing or sitting to stretch upper back muscles

These and many other stretches can be demonstrated by a physical therapist or health care provider. in addition, many web sites offer video demonstrations.