Flexion-based exercises are useful if you know how to use them 

Depending on the type of back pain you are experiencing, flexion may be the right choice for you. Flexion refers to bending forward, and incorporates a number of stretches, exercises and modalities that can help relieve pain, especially for people suffering from exaggerated curvature of the lower back, anterior pelvic tilt and weakness in the core. These three factors are present in people who spend all day in a single position, especially standing. With this posture (essentially: butt and belly stuck out in opposite directions), the spine is suffering from a lack of support at its very base. Flexion seeks to retrain your body into a more healthy posture, while strengthening the muscles that matter for maintaining this position. 

You should not perform flexion if you are suffering from:

• Severe acute or chronic back pain
• Sciatica-like symptoms
• Herniated discs

It is likely that the bending-forward motion could actually worsen your condition. Otherwise, read on to find out how flexion could benefit you. 

 

Flexion-based exercises for back pain

Exercises including: 

• Pelvic tilts
• Forward lunges
• Hamstring stretch
• Single knee-to-chest
• Both knees-to-chest

…help to address the muscle imbalance which is pulling your spine out of alignment and contributing to pain. At our office in Alameda, we want to show you how flexion-based exercises can help you regain your spine’s natural, neutral alignment. Chiropractic adjustment, in tandem with flexion-based exercise, restores alignment and helps improve range of motion in the spinal joints. This is a powerful and effective way to improve function and feeling in your life. Give our office a call to schedule an appointment today.