The Sports Medicine Specialists

RSH Physical Therapy Houston Orthopædics & Sports Medicine OakBend Medical Center
1601 Main Street # 602 1601 Main Street # 601 1705 Jackson Street
Richmond, TX 77469 Richmond, TX 77469 Richmond, TX 77469
281.341.2874 281.565.8800 281.341.3000
David Edell, LAT, ATC, CSCS
Cellular: 713.858.3802 • Fax: 281.341.3012 • E- Mail: [email protected]

Low Back Program

These exercises are used to control or improve low back pain. They should be done 3 - 5 times a day to provide
maximum benefit. These exercises are best done on a firm surface such as a floor or firm bed. If any of these exercises
aggravate your condition, they should be stopped for that session.

1) Pelvic Tilt: Lie on your back with knees bent and

feet flat. Tighten stomach muscles to flatten back
against the floor. Hold for 5 seconds, then relax.
Repeat 10 - 20 times.

2) Single Knee To Chest: Lie on your back with

knees bent and feet flat. Using both hands, grasp
one leg, below the knee, and pull to chest. Hold 5
seconds and relax. Repeat with other leg. Perform
5 - 10 times for each leg.

3) Double Knee To Chest: Lie on back with knees

bent and feet flat. Using hands, bring one knee to
chest, then the other. Hold for 5 seconds. Lower
one leg at a time. Maintain Pelvic Tilt (see #1) while
lowering leg. Repeat 5 - 10 times.

4) Partial Sit-Ups: Lie on back with knees bent and

feet flat. Assume Pelvic Tilt position. With arms out
in front of you, tuck chin and curl upper body up to
clear shoulder blades off of floor. Hold 5 seconds
and relax. Begin with 10 repetitions, add 1 per day
as strength improves.

5) Diagonal Sit-Up: Lie on back with knees bent and

feet flat. Assume the pelvic tilt position. Do a partial
sit-up with the left had reaching for the right knee.
Hold 5 seconds and relax. Repeat in the opposite
direction. Begin with 10 repetitions to each side,
add 1 per day to each side as strength improves.
 Low Back Program, Pg. 2
6) Bent Knee Roll: Lie on back with knees bent and
feet flat. Gently roll knees to one side. Hold for 10
seconds. Return to starting position and roll to
opposite side. Repeat 10 - 20 times to each side.

7) Bridging: Lie on back with knees bent and feet

flat. Lift buttocks off of floor, as high as tolerable,
and hold for 5 seconds. Slowly lowe r and relax.
Repeat 5 - 10 times.

8) Prone On Elbows: Lie on your stomach. Raise

up on your forearms and relax for 2 minutes.
Allow back to sway. Increase time by 1 minute per
day up to 10 minutes maximum.

9) Press Up: Lie on your stomach. Place hands flat

on table or floor at shoulder level. Push up while
keeping hips on the floor or table, allowing back
to sway. Hold for 5 seconds and relax. Repeat 5 -
10 times.

10) Prone Arm Lift: Lie on stomach with arms

reaching above and next to your head. Lift one
arm off of the table or floor and hold for 5
seconds. Return to beginning position. Repeat
with alternate arm. Repeat 10 times for each arm,
adding 1 repetition per day as strength improves.
Progress to lifting both arms together as strength
improves.

11) Thoracic Extension: Lie on stomach with arms at

side. Keep chin tucked into chest, forehead
resting of floor or table. Lift upper body off of floor,
keeping chin tucked in. Hold 5 seconds and relax.
Repeat 10 times, adding 1 repetition per day as
strength improves.

12) Prone Leg Lift: Lie on Stomach. Raise leg, from

hip, with knee straight, 4 - 6 inches off of floor or
table. Hold 5 seconds and relax. Repeat with
opposite leg. Repeat 10 times, adding 1 repetition
per day as strength improves.
 Low Back Program, Pg. 3
13) Opposite Arm - Leg Lift: Lie on stomach with
arms reaching above and next to your head. Lift
the left arm as you lift your right leg. Hold them
straight for 5 seconds and relax. Repeat with
alternate arm and leg. Repeat 10 times for each
arm, adding 1 repetition per day as strength
improves.

14) Opposite Arm - Leg Life On Hands & Knees:

On hands and knees, lift left arm as you lift the
right leg (straight) as a “Bird Dog on point.”
Maintain a flat back and level hips. Repeat with
alternate arm and leg. Repeat 10 times for each
arm, adding 1 repetition per day as strength
improves.

15) Cat - Horse: On hand and knees. Slowly arch

back up as far as tolerated while tucking chin to
chest. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Slowly let
back sink into a “sway back” position, while lifting
head level with back. Hold this position for 5
seconds. Repeat 30 times.

16) Standing Side Bends: Standing up straight.

Bend to side as if sliding hand down outside of
leg. Alternate to opposite side. Repeat 5 - 10
times each side.

17) Standing Back Bends: Sand upright with hands

on lower back. Bend backward as far as
comfortable. Hold 5 seconds and relax. Repeat 5 -
10 times.

18) Wall Slides: Stand with your back to a wall, feet

shoulder width apart and 6 - 10 inches from the
wall. Lean back against the wall. Slide down into a
sitting position, flattening back against the wall.
Hold sitting position for 10 seconds and return to
standing position. Repeat 10 times, add 1
repetition per day as strength improves.
 Low Back Program, Pg. 4
19) Fire Hydrant: On Hands and Knees. Lift right leg
out to the side with knee bent. Hold for 5 seconds
and repeat with opposite leg. Repeat 10 times for
each leg, adding 1 repetition per day as strength
improves.

Lower Body Stretching Exercises

20) Supine Hamstring: Lie on Back, raise leg to

chest by bending at the hip, grasping the back of
your thigh with both hands just above the knee.
Slowly straighten your knee until you feel a stretch
in the hamstrings at the back of the thigh. Hold 10
seconds, and repeat on opposite leg. Repeat 3 - 5
times for each leg.

21) Seated Hamstring: In a sitting position, Slowly

lean forward to stretch leg. This can be
performed with knees together or in a V-Leg
position. Keep back flat while performing stretch.
Hold 10 seconds, and repeat 3 - 5 times for each
leg.

21) Standing Hamstring: Place one foot on a secure

table or object 6 - 12 inches tall. Slowly lean upper
body forward, keeping leg straight and toes
pointing up. Do not “hump” back and maintain
curve in lower back. Hold 10 seconds, and repeat
3 - 5 times for each leg.

22) Hip Flexor: Lie on back on the edge of a bed or

table, hugging both knees. Lower one leg straight
out, allowing it to hang over the edge of the table.
Continue to hug opposite leg. Hold this position
for 10 seconds. Return to the starting position and
repeat on opposite side. Repeat 3 - 5 times each
leg.

23) Piriformis (Figure 4): Lie flat on back with both

knees bend and feet flat on floor. Cross right
ankle onto left knee. Grasp behind left knee and
slowly pull towards your chest. Hold for 10
seconds and slowly lower to beginning position.
Reverse position and repeat 3 - 5 times for each
leg.
 Low Back Program, Pg. 5
24) Piriformis (Trunk Twister): Sit on floor or table.
Cross right leg over left thigh, placing right foot
outside of the left knee. Place left elbow on
outside of right knee. Gently stretch by pushing
right elbow into left knee. Keep back straight while
stretching. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat for
opposite side. Repeat 3 - 5 times for each side.

25) Calf Stretch: Stand facing a wall, with one foot in

front of the other. Lean forward with your hands
on the wall. Bend the front leg while keeping both
heels on the floor. You should feel a gentile
stretch in the back of your lower legs. Hold 10
seconds, repeat with the other leg forward.
Repeat 3 - 5 times for both legs.

21) Standing IT Band Stretch: Strand, approximately

2 - 3 feet from a wall, with the involved side facing
the wall. Place one hand on the wall and cross
uninvolved leg over involved leg and lean into the
wall. Place hand on uninvolved hip for
overpressure. Hold for 10 seconds, repeat 3 - 5
times.

21) Table IT Band Stretch: Lie on back near edge of

table. Let leg stretch over edge of table so that
there is a full stretch on outside of hip and side of
leg. Bend leg being stretched to 90° angle at the
hip and keep knee straight. Place arms out to the
side to maintain balance. Hold for 30 seconds,
repeat on other side. Repeat 3 - 5 times for each
leg.

22) Quad Stretch: Stand with involved knee bent.

Gently pull heel toward buttocks, feeling a stretch
in the front of the leg. Keep upper body straight,
do not lean forward. To increase the stretch, pull
with enough pressure to cause the involved knee
to pass behind the uninvolved knee. Hold for 10
seconds, repeat 3 - 5 times.