#

Go Back

The Prevent Lower Back Pain Workout

🕐 October 31, 2018

📲Cori Lefkowith

If you want to stay injury free, it isn’t enough to just rest and then return to your normal routine.

You’ve got to CORRECT the problem that caused the pain to occur aka address the movement distortions, compensations and imbalances that lead to the overload.

And in the case of our lower backs, this is generally tight hip flexors, an immobile spine, overstretched hamstrings and weak abs and glutes.

This is why you need a 3 step approach to improving your movement patterns as well as your mobility and stability so you can prevent the pain from reoccurring – you need to Foam Roll, Stretch and Activation, not only as rehab or prehab but also as part of your WARM UP to your runs, rides or lifts.

If you’re ready to get those glutes and abs activated as you improve your spinal and hip mobility to prevent lower back and even hip and knee pain, check out my RStoration program!

The Prevent Lower Back Pain Workout

FOAM ROLLING:

Complete 1 round through the series, holding on any tight spots you find instead of rolling quickly back and forth. If something isn’t tight, you don’t need to roll it. But if something is tight, don’t hesitate to spend an extra 10-15 seconds on that area.

CIRCUIT:
30 seconds Peanut Foam Rolling
30 seconds per side Psoas Foam Rolling
30 seconds per side Adductor Foam Rolling
30 seconds per side TFL/Glute Foam Rolling

STRETCHING:

Complete 1 round through this series, spending more time on any tight areas. You can do these for about 20-40 seconds per move or side or up to 10 reps per side. Your focus is on improving your range of motion over the reps or time.

CIRCUIT:
4-6 reps per side Child’s Pose with Reaches
5-10 reps per side Active Foam Roller Star Stretch
10 reps per side Half Kneeling Hip and Quad Stretch
5-10 reps per side World’s Greatest Stretch

ACTIVATION:

Complete 2-4 rounds of each triset, resting up to 30 seconds between rounds if needed. Rest up to 1 minute between trisets as needed. If you are doing this as part of a warm up, 1-2 rounds of each is more than enough.

TRISET #1:
20 seconds Vomiting Cat
20 seconds Glute Bridge with Rocks
20 seconds Swimmers

TRISET #2:
20 seconds Thoracic Bridge with Sit Thru
20 seconds Bulldog Shoulder Taps
20 seconds Frog Bridge

With the stretching and rolling, focus on your areas of tightness even skipping areas that aren’t tight especially if you are short on time!

11 Comments

  1. saima

    hi dear
    Thanks for sharing it. LOVELY !!!
    I need your help dear! when I raise my legs off the ground, my lower back hurts in swimmers exercise.
    Secondly, when I do crunches, I try to lift my shoulders only and not neck, still I can’t relax my neck as if overactive neck flexors. How to fix it?

  2. Terri

    Exactly what I need!! This will be my new dynamic warm up. Your movement patterns are excellent and this targeted my weak and tight areas perfectly.

    Thank you!

  3. Denise Marshall

    Do you have a routine for upper back pain? Shoulder,traps and neck

  4. Cori Lefkowith

    Your lower back, while it should work, should be supported by engaging your glutes and it sounds like your spinal mobility is limited. I mentioned to you in another comment checking out my RStoration. It sounds like too you need to learn to stack your head over your neck instead of trying to jut your chin forward in your hands.

  5. Jamie

    Thank you for the great post. Never heard that movement called the vomiting cat before. I am so gonna use that name going forward.

  6. Cori Lefkowith

    hehe glad it helps! The name helps me separate it from the simple stretch to the activation move it can be!

  7. Aaron Shafer

    Your approach is exhaustive and so thorough. As a scientist, I appreciate your thoughtful and holistic methodology of treating the upstream and downstream areas of the pain.

  8. Leah

    Brilliant program, I’m going to use this twice weekly to help ease lower back tightness

  9. Cori Lefkowith

    Glad the workout helps! Hope you check out the full RStoration program as often even addressing mobility restrictions at other joints can prevent further overload!

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Cori Lefkowith

Founder | Redefining Strength

Cori Lefkowith is the founder of Redefining Strength and a fitness coach with 15+ years of experience helping people build strength, move better and create lasting results at any age.

📍 Based in Mission Viejo, CA

📁 Categories

🎧 Podcast

358

🏋️‍♀️ Exercises

339

🥙 Diet

139

🏃‍♀️ Workouts

114

🧘‍♀️ Pain Relief

104

🧍‍♀️Bodyweight

102

🤸‍♀️ Core

97

🚴‍♀️ Functional Fitness

87

🍑 Butt

60

🔥 Other

49

Popular Categories

#fat loss tips

#weight loss tips

#fat loss

#fitness podcast

#redefining strength

#redefining strength podcast

#macro cycling

#core exercises

🔗 Featured Article

workout progression

📆 March 23, 2025

How To Build Muscle (Using Double Progression)

📆 May 11, 2021

Welcome to my brand spanking new health & wellness blog

starting back to workout tips

📆 September 29, 2024

7 Tips To Start Back in the Gym After a Layoff

Never Miss A Post

No fluff. Just useful insights and tips straight to your inbox.