An important part of avoiding back pain is having a good, strong core. Your core consists of the muscles that are beneath your chest and above your hips. Your lower spine relies on these muscles to keep it supported, and a weakness in one muscle group can quickly strain the other muscles and cause you back pain. If you’d like to try strengthening your own core, our Edmonds chiropractic clinic recommends the following exercise:
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Lay face down, propping yourself up on your forearms such that your upper arms are at a ninety degree angle with the floor.
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Plant your toes and raise your hips so that your body is straight.
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Tighten your buttocks and abdominal muscles to hold yourself in place, keeping your head in a neutral position.
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Hold the position as long as you can.
- Start out with small increments of time if you need to, even five seconds if that’s all you can do. Try to work your way up to a minute over time.