Lower Back Stretching
Stretching takes an integral part in our daily routine exercise. Stretching keeps our muscles flexible which is very important to carry out any heavy work such as hardcore exercise, weight lifting, acrobatic, and even while lifting a heavy box. Stretching helps us to save our muscles from injuries.
In fact proper lower back stretching routine enhances our overall activities, stimulates blood circulation, strengthens muscles, and increases the flexibility. While many parts of our body need stretching everyday some of the parts need more attention. Lower back stretching is the most important part which needs extensive stretching routine on a continuous basis. It is found that lifting tasks and forward flexion movements often cause lower back problem. It is also found that those who suffer back problems have a different muscles activity pattern during such activities than the healthier one.
Lower back stretching becomes weak due to wear and tear and often experiences stress and immense pain. Chronic lower back pain is the most common disorder among many people. This happens due to little or lack of movement in that area or due to some inflammation. Lower back stiffness is another health problem which may occur either due to ageing factor or basically due to a lazy lifestyle. Muscles become thick and not pliable or bendable any more leading to number of other problems. Lower back stretching can help in building strong muscles on the abdomen and back as well as provide greater strength and overall mobility.
Lower back stretching plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body as it strengthens muscles around the centre often called as ‘core’. Involving abdominal muscles while lower back stretching can not only help to build the muscles around but also to burn the excessive fat. Doctors often prescribe lower back stretching for the patients who complaint chronic back pain.
The gluteals can be adversely affected by muscle imbalance problems with adjacent muscle groups. Muscle imbalance occurs due to muscles being condensed and extended with respect to each other. Often mobiliser muscles become less flexible and are ready for recruitment. This happens because of pre-tension in the muscle which increases its excitability. Due to this, adjacent or antagonistic muscles become subdued, impairing their function. Therefore, the adjourning mobiliser muscles of the hip must be fully flexible in order to ensure correct recruitment of the gluteals
A set of lower back stretching exercises called hip flexors stretch; hamstrings stretch, adductors stretch and tensor fascia lata stretch are very useful to prevent any imbalance problems.