If you suffer from low back pain, you’re not alone. In fact, back pain is extremely common, causing many people to visit their doctor for help and resulting in missed work days. While lower back pain can start with an injury such as a strain due to lifting a heavy object or turning wrong, it can far too easily go from an acute issue to chronic pain. According to the experts, approximately 20 percent of people who suffer an initial low back injury will go on to have long-term problems.
Of course, while back pain can be caused by issues like overstretching ligaments or straining tendons and muscles, it can also be a symptom of a degenerative problem, such as osteoarthritis, or compression of the spinal discs or nerves.
The good news is, no matter which of these is the root cause of your pain, strengthening your core muscles can help you find relief. That’s why in this article, we’re going to take you through not only the ins and outs of how a weak core can leave you hurting, but also the simple tricks you can use to get those muscles into shape and give your spine the support it needs to banish back pain.
This article is for you if:
- You experience lower back pain when standing
- Waking up with lower back pain has become part of your day-to-day life
- Lower back pain when running has you considering giving up your favorite workout
- You’ve tried ice or heat for lower back pain but haven’t gotten the level of relief you want
So let’s jump in!
The core/back pain connection
Your core is made up of both your back muscles and your abdominals. Together, these muscle groups wrap around your body and connect to your pelvis to act like a corset, holding you upright and supporting your spine.
However, when your core becomes weak, that support is compromised, forcing your body to rely on the ligaments, bones and discs of your lower spine, skyrocketing your risk of pain and injury.
Strengthening the muscles helps you overcome the pain by equipping your lower back to better handle the daily stress you place on it, whether you’re sitting at your desk or hitting the gym. That’s why studies have shown that core strength training is a powerful tool in reducing low back pain.
Easy exercises for a stronger core
That’s why our back pain experts designed the Backlounge inversion table to not only provide inversion therapy to relieve pressure on spinal discs and nerves, but also to offer a simple way to work your core. With Backlounge, you can perform exercises that encourage stronger abdominal and back muscles, such as classic crunches, in minutes a day, all while resting assured that your neck and back are supported.
In addition to using Backlounge’s core strengthening function, which is perfect for beginners who are ready to get their muscle strength and spinal support back on track, we also recommend this easy 7 minute core strengthening floor workout to help improve your posture and reduce lower back pain: