Home Exercise Programs for Chronic Back Pain Patients
These are my favorite exercises to prescribe to my patients with lower back pain; especially those that present with a specific directional preference!
The main idea for these patients is to find the movements that don’t hurt and to get active!
Exercises for Patients with a Flexion Bias
Single Knee to Chest
Trunk flexion assisted by the Upper Extremities, leading with the lower segments.
Supine Marches
Core stability exercise that initiates Trunk flexion, leading with the lower segments.
Posterior Pelvic Tilts
Trunk control & Core stability exercise that initiates spinal flexion.
Seated Knee to Chest
Trunk flexion in a gravity resisted, upright position, assisted by the Upper Extremities.
Repeated Flexion in Sitting
Active Trunk flexion from an upright position, leading with the upper segments.
Exercises for Patients with an Extension Bias
Bridges
Transitioning from a slightly flexed to an extended trunk posture, activating the posterior hip and trunk musculature.
Cat-Cow
Transitioning within your pain-free range of motion from spinal flexion to spinal extension.
Prone Press Ups
Active spinal extension from a gravity resisted position, assisted by the upper extremities, leading with the upper segments.
Prone Leg Lifts
Active spinal extension from a gravity resisted position, leading with the lower segments.
Repeated Extension in Standing
Active spinal extension from a gravity eliminated position, leading with the upper segments.
