Exercises to strengthen lower back?

[orgasmicliving!!]

Lately, my lower back has been kind of sore. A dull ache or almost a burning sensation. Does anyone know what exercises I could do stretch the muscles there adn strenghten them? Strangely enough, biking doesn't aggravate it.

BTW, in case I haven't said it before, I really appreciate the good advice and encouragement I get on here.

[rico]

Lots of Pilates moves are good for strengthening the back. I thoroughly recommend THIS book. Very well illustrated.

[orgasmicliving!!]

OK, thanks, going to go find a well-illustrated book on Pilates at the local bookstore. If they don't have one, I will order this one.

Cheers,
OL.

[gazzab]

Get it looked at properly. The problem is probably not the lower back! The lower back is maybe the symptomn. I find that tension and sitting at a desk puts stress on my upper back that then makes me over use the lower back eg when bending (no comments!). If I get the upper back sorted then the lower back probs go.

[orgasmicliving!!]

I was wondering about this too...I do sit hunched over at a desk for long periods. And i had a slipped disc last year (upper back) so perhaps the body is compensating by putting more of the load on the lower back, straining it in turn. I just didn't have much luck with the chiropractor last year.

Yeah, guess I will get it checked out. I hate going to the doctor's.

[theboymoon]

gazzab said:

Get it looked at properly. The problem is probably not the lower back! The lower back is maybe the symptomn. I find that tension and sitting at a desk puts stress on my upper back that then makes me over use the lower back eg when bending (no comments!). If I get the upper back sorted then the lower back probs go.

Absolutely, backs are fiendishly complicated things! I am having physio at the moment because of back pain brought on by sitting too long at a computer all day. As Gazzab says the problem and source of the pain can be in two separate places. It's just too important not to get it looked at by a professional.

Humans were not built to sit at a desk all day!

Edited by theboymoon on Wednesday 25th October 18:38

[gazzab]

I use an osteopath every 3 or 4 yrs when my back is bad.

[pombstard]

Lots of knee-to-chest type of stretches, sitting spinal twist, lying spinal twist, back arching, hamstring stretching (cycling makes them quite tight and this pulls on your back). Also thigh stretches and hip flexor stretches to allow full movement.

Am currently having physio on the tendons on the lower back, just either side of the lumbar spine, following a flip over the bars and then not allowing it to heal properly which led to using other muscles to compensate. The above stretches really help, as does the physio itself though it is f*$&@#g painful.