What are some good exercises for strengthening my back?
Back exercises is a specialized area, and the type of exercise needed can depend on the cause of the back pain. Ideally you should see a physio who will set out a appropriate exercises to strengthen the back muscles and spine alignment. Water exercise is good as the water supports the body, is low impact and can be excellent for the cardiovascular system. Ti chi is good for balance and increasing muscle strength. Exercise balls are also great at all over muscle strength & tone of the body, however you need to make sure the ball is the correct size for your height. And there is some really good video/CD’s and books on how to do ball exercises, most good sport stores can measure you for the correct sized ball. You could use tins of fruit or spaghetti as dumb bells. Having a steady, progressive back exercise repetition is the key to achieving a stronger back, starting with low repetitions say around 5, rest then repeat and build up 10-20 etc as it becomes easier.
