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? ›

Doing back muscle workouts every day is generally not recommended. Like any muscle group, the back muscles need time to recover and repair after intense exercise. Overtraining the back muscles can lead to muscle fatigue, increased risk of injury, and diminished performance over time.

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.

Are 4 exercises enough for the back? ›

Depending on what back exercises you choose, 5-7 exercises may be enough for back day. You want to choose a range of movement patterns to build lean muscle mass.

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.

What are 2 exercises for back pain? ›

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).

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.

What exercises should you avoid with lower back pain? ›

Exercises to avoid if you are dealing with lower back pain

Full-range sit-ups: These can put excessive strain on the lower back, potentially worsening pain. Heavy squats: Deep squats with heavy weights can compress the spine and exacerbate lower back issues.

Is walking good for back pain? ›

Walking engages and stretches the muscles and ligaments surrounding the lower back, such as the hip flexors, gluteal muscles, and hamstrings. Stretching these muscles relieves muscle tension and stiffness, reducing lower back pain.

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? ›

Back exercises boost flexibility and range of motion. When we focus on making our backs work as effectively as possible, we're ensuring that every movement we make is a careful movement that allows our muscles to move naturally without restriction. Lack of flexibility is one of the biggest causes of injury!

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.

Will muscles grow if you workout every day? ›

Spending your whole day in the gym isn't necessary to build muscle. Weight training for 20 to 30 minutes, 2 to 3 times a week is enough to see results. You should try to target all your major muscle groups at least twice throughout your weekly workouts.

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