Research from the US suggests that more than 80% of adults have suffered with lower back pain at some point.
We now live more sedentary lives with many people – at all ages – spending too much time sitting at a desk or hunched over a computer keyboard.
Although there are many causes of lower back pain, muscle weakness appears to be one of the major causes and increasing the strength of trunk and lower back muscles can decrease lower back discomfort.
The University of Florida studied over 1000 patients with lower back pain over several years. They required participants to perform specific resistance exercises targeting lower back muscles using standard gym equipment.
Each participant had to do this 2 – 3 times weekly on non-consecutive days and performed between 8 and 12 repetitions. When they were able to complete the repetition the resistance was increased.
After 10 weeks of regular lower back strengthening exercises more than two thirds of patients were either pain free or had significantly reduced pain.
