When your back is really aching, the last thing you probably want to do is engage in any physical activity but that is exactly what you should do. Stretching exercises for back pain is the physical activity of choice when your upper to lower back is aching because if you do not get moving, at least a little bit, your muscles could stiffen up causing even more troubles.

Stretching in general is often not incorporated into your daily routine and sometimes it is overlooked when engaging in physical activity. There are exercises to prevent back pain from even occurring and other stretching movements that can prevent injury elsewhere too. By taking just few extra minutes out of your day, you could actually prevent quite a few of those minor aches and pains you may get throughout the day.

Stretching The Upper Back

Stretching exercises for back pain depend on where the pain originates or is located because sometimes lower back exercises may exacerbate the upper back. For upper back pain, sometimes it is actually the neck where the pain originates from so neck stretches should help. These types of stretching exercises for back pain start with you standing with both feet flat on the floor with your head forward and knees gently bent. Slowly, you move your head down so your chin touches the chest and then move your neck slowly from the left to the right before returning to the original position.

Shoulder stretching exercises for back pain can help as well and you start in the same position as the neck stretches. With your head leaned forward you roll your shoulders slowly, first starting with small circles and then graduated to full circles. Next, you reverse the direction of the rolls, as these stretching exercises for back pain will work a different part of the muscles. At least 20 slow rolls forward and then backward constitutes one set and you should do at least 3 sets and work your way up.

Mid To Lower Back Stretching

There are also stretching exercises for back pain like the hamstring stretch that helps alleviate lower backaches. You will need a chair or some other flat surface in which you can rest your leg straight out in front of you level. Stand and place one leg straight out and rest it on a chair and then slowly bend your standing leg until you feel a slight burning twinge behind the thigh of the raised leg. Hold your position briefly, return to normal position and then switch legs.

Back extensions are part of stretching exercises for back pain and consist of lying on your stomach. Next, you will leverage yourself up on your elbows while lengthening your back. Straighten the elbows slowly out while further lengthening your back until you feel a small stretch and hold the position. After a few seconds of these stretching exercises for back pain, you can return to your original position and repeat several more times.