Back Stretches

May 16, 2023 | Joel Runyon

Table of Contents

If there’s one body part that seems to be tighter or experience pain more than any of the others, it would definitely be the back. In fact, back pain affects about 80% of us at some point in our lives. The spectrum of tightness can be anywhere from mildly uncomfortable to extremely debilitating.

The tricky aspect about back pain is that the root cause could lie in the actual back. But back pain can also be caused by other tight muscles in the body such as the hamstrings, glutes, or hips. Whatever stretching routine you adopt, it’s important that you include a variety of stretches for different body parts to ensure you’re taking the most comprehensive approach.

Back pain can feel like a dull ache, cramping, spasming, stiffness, or downright painful. It’s important to tune into your body and really take care when handling this pain. Steps should be taken early so as not to allow it to get worse over time. If you’re not sure about the severity of your condition, you may need to consult a doctor or physical therapist.

Back Stretches

Back tightness can be caused from living a primarily sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for many hours during the day can cause the back to tighten up. It’s important to incorporate movement throughout your day when you can to prevent this from happening.

Of course, any strenuous activity or over-exertion during exercise can also lead to this issue. Sometimes, it’s just inevitable. That being said, incorporating these stretches and exercises into your warm-up and cool-down routines can prevent serious back injuries to occur and can also fight off unnecessary tightness.

Here are some solutions to stretch out those sore back muscles. Some of the stretches may address other areas that affect the back – tight hamstrings or glutes are classically associated with back problems.

Use these stretches and get after it – sorting your back out is one of the best things you can do for your day to day mobility and wellbeing.

Joel Runyon

Joel Runyon

Joel is the founder of IMPOSSIBLE and the founder of MoveWell. Joel founded MoveWell after sustaining an injury while running an ultra marathon on every continent. Joel writes about mobility, pain management and health and wellness overall.

Other Related Stretches