Strengthen Your Spine With These Easy Exercises

There are more than a few causes of back pain and stiffness, but chances are high that your spinal column has something to do with the pain you are feeling in your upper or lower back. This is because a person's spinal health and strength is directly tied to overall body health, especially when it comes to muscle and joint wellness. Whether you are currently experiencing back pain from a strain, injury or a pain-related condition such as arthritis, or you are just looking for an effective and safe way to prevent future instances of back pain from occurring, you may want to keep on reading for some helpful tips for improving spine and back health.

In particular, it will more than likely benefit you to learn about some easy and simple exercises that can be performed almost anywhere with the goal of strengthening the spinal column. I learned about these helpful and effective spinal column stretches and exercises from an article by U.S. News Health, and I am glad to share what I learned in the article here with you.

Surprisingly enough, one of the absolute best things that you can do for your spinal column is also one of the simplest things you can do - standing up. Yes, it sounds like this shouldn't really count as a spinal column exercise, but take a moment to consider just how often you spend your time sitting down or hunched over in an unnatural position. Whether you are sitting in a cramped cubicle at work, stuck in one rigid position in the car for your daily commute, or sitting on a couch at home that does not have the best ergonomic support, chances are high that throughout the day, your spinal column is being twisted and strained in unnatural ways. This is why you should remember to stand up often, and focus on the feeling of lengthening your spine as you do.

When you're ready to take this stretch to the next level, start by raising your body from your toes, then your heels. Next, place your feet firmly on the ground. From here, arch your lower back as you tuck your pelvis in. Lift your shoulders up and forward, then roll them back slowly. As your shoulders lower, your posture will correct itself.

Another easy exercise to try is to imagine that there is a pen that is balanced on your spine, and that you must use your shoulder blades to "grab" it. Roll your shoulders back and squeeze them together for twenty to thirty seconds for a stronger spine over time.

Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Donnie Ray Jones