The Turks & Caicos Low Back Relaxer Exercise
Today’s Topic Highlights:
Everyone experiences low back discomfort at some point. Fortunately, lower back stiffness or discomfort is a mild issue that can usually be ameliorated with this one simple exercise.
Stiffness in the lower back area can be caused by a number of things. Some common culprits include sitting for extended periods of time, lifting things with incorrect form, golfing, and bending over repeatedly.
Inadequate core strength and spinal integrity create the conditions for low back problems.
The Turks & Caicos low back relaxer is one of the simplest, easiest, least intense exercises you will ever come across. To perform it, you will need an exercise ball.
The key to its effectiveness lies in being as relaxed as possible while performing it. The less effort you put into this exercise, the better (who can argue with that?).
Everyone experiences low back discomfort at some point. It is never welcome, never enjoyable, and often lingers for longer than expected. Fortunately, lower back stiffness or discomfort is a mild issue that can usually be ameliorated with this one simple exercise.
Stiffness in the lower back area can be caused by a number of things. Some common culprits include sitting for extended periods of time, lifting things with incorrect form, playing a round of golf or hitting balls at the driving range, and bending over repeatedly while gardening or doing housework.
These activities, combined with inadequate core strength and spinal integrity, create the conditions for low back problems. The lumbar spine (highlighted in the picture below) is designed to stabilize our midsection during bending or rotational movements. If our posture is slightly stooped over, the abdominals are not strong enough, or the surrounding muscular is generally tight and inflexible, this section of the spine ends up doing more work than it is meant to. The result is some degree pain or discomfort.
Although a more permanent solution to low back problems typically involves a multifaceted approach which addresses postural correction, deep abdominal activation, and posterior chain strengthening among other things, a mild degree of discomfort can often be resolved on the spot. Enter: the Turks & Caicos low back relaxer exercise.
The Turks & Caicos low back relaxer is one of the simplest, easiest, least intense exercises you will ever come across. And that’s what makes it work. The key to its effectiveness lies in being as relaxed as possible while performing it. I tell people to imagine they are lying on a beach in Turks & Caicos so that their body completely relaxes - hence the name I gave it. The less effort you put into to this exercise, the better (who can argue with that?).
To perform the Turks & Caicos low back relaxer, you will need an exercise ball. Follow the instructions below with the accompanying pictures to perform the exercise. If you are experiencing stiffness in the lower back going into it, you should begin feeling looser after performing this for 1-2 minutes.