What simple exercise to get rid of back stiffness/pain?

[Leros]

I'm not the most active person in the world. As a full time engineering and CS student I find myself in a chair (in class or in front of a computer) a large portion of the day. This leaves my body rather stiff. I've found little exercises to deal with most of the problems. A walk/hike every 3 or 4 days is enough to keep my legs feeling good. 30-40 push ups a day keep my arms feeling good.


My lower back feels stiff a lot and sometimes hurts. I do stretches and stuff, but that only helps temporarily (like 5 - 10 minutes). I can't think of anything good to help my back.

Any ideas?

 

[bovinda]

Besides exercises, you may want to consider how you're sitting when you're working, also. Posture has a lot to do with lower back pain. May need a better chair, to adjust the hide you're working at, how your pelvis is tilted, etc. Otherwise, I would look at yoga or pilates, both have great core-strengthening exercise routines. But your situation sounds ergonomic-related. Good luck!

 

[Savij]

Lie on your stomach and lift and hold your shoulders, chest, hands and legs (feet and thighs) off the floor. 5 - 10 repititions a day and you'll notice that you feel better within a week.

 

[UncleWai]

seal stretch.

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: Savij
Lie on your stomach and lift and hold your shoulders, chest, hands and legs (feet and thighs) off the floor. 5 - 10 repititions a day and you'll notice that you feel better within a week.

the seal strech

 

[alm99]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
seal stretch.

I need to learn to read before I post...

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Savij
Lie on your stomach and lift and hold your shoulders, chest, hands and legs (feet and thighs) off the floor. 5 - 10 repititions a day and you'll notice that you feel better within a week.

superman pose

 

[jfall]

It also may be due to bad diet. I used to get stiffness/back pain until I changed up my diet, now I rarely ever get it

 

[BigPoppa]

Deadlifts. They're simple, but do require a gym.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Deadlifts. They're simple, but do require a gym.

Not really. I have a bar and some weights at home, it's not much, but I could do deadlifts.

 

[StevenYoo]

Originally posted by: alm99

Originally posted by: Savij
Lie on your stomach and lift and hold your shoulders, chest, hands and legs (feet and thighs) off the floor. 5 - 10 repititions a day and you'll notice that you feel better within a week.

the seal strech

I call them superman crunches (my own designation, since i had no idea of what people called them)

 

[imported_LoKe]

How do you do the seal stretch, exactly? Are you in a straight line, or are your hands/legs supposed to be out to the sides?

 

[StevenYoo]

i do them in a straight line

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Deadlifts. They're simple, but do require a gym.

deadlifts look like it hurts your back more?

your bending over and lifting?

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Deadlifts. They're simple, but do require a gym.

deadlifts look like it hurts your back more?

your bending over and lifting?

I'll tell you this. This summer I worked at a job where I did a lot of heavy lifting (50-100lb steel parts) and my back felt great. Now that I'm back into my sedentary lifestyle, my back hurts again.