As we’ve discussed in many prior blog posts, low back pain (LBP) is extremely common, sometimes becoming a daily issue. But if there were exercises you could do regularly in the comfort of your own home to alleviate or avoid this pain altogether, wouldn’t you take action?

First off, there are a variety of exercises for LBP -- so many that it’s hard for patients to know which are the best for them. I can help you determine which exercises you can and should be doing with various levels of LBP, and we can move forward together, deciding when new exercises can be introduced into your routine.

One example is a patient who comes to me and is able to bend over without discomfort. If this is the case, I might begin by recommending exercises like pulling one knee to the chest and then the other knee; sitting and/or standing and bending over; hamstring stretches; and more. If you feel more comfortable bending backwards, you might begin by laying on pillows or a gym ball and arching over the ball; standing up and bending back for a few reps; or doing a modified form of push-ups.

The options for back exercises are nearly endless, and every patient will feel comfortable with a different assortment of them. The main takeaway here is that these are measures you can take within the comfort of your own home and fit them into your own schedule when it’s most convenient. If patients regularly do the exercises I recommend to them (like brushing your teeth, they should be done on a regular basis for maintenance), the results of their chiropractic care will be even better and will lead to long-term, sustainable results.