1. Lie on tummy over a pillow: raise head and shoulders to the horizontal – without arching

the back, as this can put a strain on the posterior joints. Progress by repeating with arms stretched sideways.

In this way, the back extensor muscles work, but no stress is put on the joints.

2. [...]

If you never need to give your back a thought when you wake up in the morning; if there is no stiffness or pain when you roll over, sit up, and get out of bed, then your bed is probably all right for you – no matter how it looks to other people.

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These are of various kinds in which the patient takes over, following the therapist’s instructions, in trying to mobilise joints and strengthen muscles.

The type of exercise prescribed depends on the patient’s condition, on how long the patient has been out of action and on how fit the patient needs to [...]

Most episodes of acute back pain grow less severe within two or three days, when the sufferer can start to get up and about again. On the first day this should be for only a couple of hours at a time, with spells of rest in between, increasing gradually on succeeding days, within the painfree [...]

A fracture or crack of the vertebral arch in the lower lumbar spine is called spondylolysis. It may happen either suddenly or gradually as the culmination of a series of repeated strains – rather like a fatigue fracture in metal; or as a result of a congenital defect. It often causes no symptoms and a [...]