3 good starter exercises for back pain
In the clinic, I usually give exercises in the 2nd or 3rd week of care. By that time, patients are feeling better with less pain and more energy to do exercises.
The goal of the exercises is to:
Increase awareness of the mind and body connection
Increase the flexibility of the spine
Increase core strength
In this article by Amber Sayer of Well + Good, she outlines exercises that are best for your spine. In particular, I like these three:
Cat and Cow
The Cat and Cow is a simple exercise that can be done on all fours parallel to the ground. Alternate between the Cat and the Cow position in a fluid movement, and do 8-10 repetitions. Then repeat three times. Here is the video link to see how to do it: https://youtu.be/y_cKHKi9UaM
Bird Dog
The Bird Dog is excellent for coordination and strength. Start on all fours, and then alternate one arm with the opposite leg. Hold for 1-2 seconds to start. Then repeat on the other side. Do 8-10 repetitions. Then repeat for 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions. Here is a link to see how it's done: