Here ya go
The spine clinic has asked me to come work for them but I declined. I love the IRON GAME too much for my own good.
No disrespect towards ToughOldMan but I would avoid stiff legged deadlifts like the plaque. It's important to understand that some stretching/strengthening exercises can hurt you in the long run. For example straight legged toe touches mostly stretch the ligaments in the lower back not the back muscles/hamstrings!!!
Okay your having muscle spasms which is totally different than disk problems. I would suggest some back extensions along with reverse crunches to strengthen/stretch that area. Crunches and rack pulls or hypers can be added later but they are rarerly needed.
Exercising the right way can keep the back strong by allowing spinal discs to receive its nutrition. A healthy disc will swell with water and squeeze it out, similar to the action of a sponge. This sponge action distributes nutrients to the disc. Fluid exchange has been noted to help reduce the swelling in the other soft tissues surrounding injured discs. When there is a lack of the correct exercise, swelling can increases and the discs become mal-nourished and degenerated.
But the probelm your having is in the muscles. The lower back and abdominal muscles act as an internal corset supporting the core-???vertebrae discs". When lower back and abdominal muscles get weak they struggle keeping the posture upright and can go into painful spasm. Strengthening exercises help strengthen these supporting muscles. In Addition, stretching is a must for a stiff back. Stretching the hamstring muscles/glutes along with the lower back helps to relieve stress in the low back. Also keep in mind that cable crunches will help take the strain off the neck as opposed to regular cruches.
Best stretches I have found for the lower back. Hold each stretch for 20 seconds and repeat 3-5 times.
1. My all-time favorite is Elbow push ups with a twist. Lie on your stomach, face down with your forehead on the floor. Relax all muscles, especially the muscles of the back and stomach. Using your forearms, press yourself up and hold the position for about 30 seconds, slowly twist your hips to one side and hold for 30 sec, then twist them to the other side for 30 sec. Twist and repeat 3-5 times.
2. Hip presses are done by place the right hip on inside of door frame and cross feet were the right foot is now on the inside. Push hip into the door frame hard and hold. Repeat with left hip doing each side 3-5 times.
3.The "angry cat" exercise is a great one to stretch the upper and lower back and strengthen the abs. This is done on your hands and knees. Exhale and round your back up, pulling in your abs toward your spine, feeling a stretch in your spine. Hold this for five seconds, inhale and return to a neutral spine position.
4. Seated Twist. Sit on floor with left leg straight out in front. Bend right leg, cross right foot over, place outside left knee. Bend left elbow and rest it outside right knee.Place right hand behind hips on floor.Turn head over right shoulder, rotate upper body right. Hold 20 seconds and repeat on other side.
5. Low back stretch. Sit on a chair allowing your upper legs to run parallel with the floor. Bend over while seated and grab one ankle, then the other, then grab both ankles at the same time.
6.Hamstring stretch: Sit down with legs spread apart in th shape of a v. and try putting your chest against the right leg and hold then repeat for the left leg.
Editors Note: Up to 50% of individuals have a lateral- forward tilt of the pelvis of 1/4 inch or more. Excessive arch in the lower back area can be a result of a deviation in the pelvic girdle or from low back problems. The spine and pelvis are very interrerated making it almost impossible to tell which problem is at fault. Exercising, stretching, and spinal adjustments by a chiropractor is the best 3 things you can do for your back.
