The lumbar spine is the part of the spine that is most vulnerable to injury. Whether you’re standing up, lifting heavy objects, or just bending slightly to pick something up, the lumbar spine is always called into action. As you age, and with long-term incorrect posture, the lumbar spine undergoes repeated adverse compression over the years, which can eventually lead to pathological changes.
Chen Chaolong, an orthopedist and director of the Taiwan Quansheng Chinese Medicine Clinic, noted that the key to protecting the lumbar spine is to avoid muscle stiffness and strain. He shared a simple and practical spinal stretching exercise to help protect lumbar spine health.
Relaxing the Back Muscles to Prevent Pain
There are many causes of lumbar pain. In addition to referred pain—a type of pain that originates in one area but is felt in another—and age-related degeneration, such as from kidney stones, herpes zoster, or pelvic inflammatory disease, many clinical cases result from acute or chronic strain. Acute pain, such as that caused by a car accident or unexpected external impact, comes on quickly and is very painful. Chronic pain develops from long-term, repetitive stress—most commonly from sitting for prolonged periods.
Amber Yang
Amber Yang is a certified personal trainer. She met all the requirements of the American Council on Exercise to develop and implement personalized exercise programs. She worked as a marketing manager for natural skin care products for years and as a health and beauty reporter and editor for ten years. She is also the host and producer of the YouTube programs "Amber Running Green" and "Amber Health Interview."
