A lady messaged me the other day after watching our technique videos about lower back pain and asked:
“I get low back pain during sit-ups. Am I doing something wrong?, or should I avoid them?”
Great question! I’m glad she asked because this time of year, people begin to get more active in preparation for the summer. As a result, we see a big rise in the number of people suffering from low back pain.
And, even though sit-ups are one of the most common go-to exercises to get your abs “summer-ready”, are they effective to strengthen your core to help support your low back? And more importantly, can this exercise cause low back pain?…
If you’ve ever tried to do an ab workout and realized halfway through that your low back is feeling things it shouldn’t be feeling, you’re not alone.
For me (and for many of my patients) it’s any ab exercise that asks me to sit upon my tailbone and move my legs that causes a slight twinge in my low back.
Which is frustrating when you want to keep active but can’t because your low back is in pain!
While we often think of our core as being our abs- the abs are only one small part of the equation!
What Is Your Core And How Does It Relate To Low Back Pain?
Your core is made up of a group of muscles that work together to support the body. It wraps around the entire trunk and includes muscles between your collar bone and your knees from the front, back, and side.
When you do any exercises for the core, you impact all other parts that make up your core too- including your lower back.
Low back pain during any exercise involving your core is usually a sign that your core is too weak to do that exercise.
Why Does My Lower Back Hurt When I Do Sit-Ups?
Well, if your low back isn’t strong enough to support the core the exercises you’re doing (with all of the right intentions) may just be asking too much of your low back. This causes all the muscles in your low back to strain. Alternatively, if you have a weakness anywhere else in your body, your lower back may overcompensate by taking on more than it can handle.
But low back pain during exercise doesn’t always mean your low back or core is weak. Nope, pain in your low back can also be a sign that the way you perform the exercise needs tweaking.
One of the most common mistakes we see people make when performing these types of exercises is ‘hyperextension. This is when your hips aren’t tucked under, causing a curve in the spine. If you can focus on keeping your tailbone (hips) tucked under, drawing your belly button towards the spine, this will help alleviate back pain.
Another helpful tip to keep in mind is to remember that the lower back needs to remain ‘glued’ to the floor for the majority of exercises involving the abdominals. When your back comes off of the floor, it’s in a vulnerable position.
Click here to learn about an at-home low back pain program.
What Should I Do?
Before progressing with any core exercises, make sure you can perform them with your back flat against the floor first. That way you’ll protect yourself from back pain and you’ll be strengthening your back at the same time.
Not only a weak core but muscle tightness and fatigue can also lead to poor form and lower back pain too…
If your glutes and hips are really tight, chances are you’ll feel the strain in your back during your daily activities, not just exercise.
When you’re tired, your muscles stop functioning properly and your body will look for nearby muscle groups to compensate. Most of the time the lower back and hips are the ones that take the strain!
So, what can you do to stop back pain from getting in the way? First off stop doing movements that cause you pain. Any pain is your body’s way of telling you to stop what you’re doing no matter what. Basically, if it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it!
However, the good news is that there are plenty of simple ways you can strengthen your core without straining your back.
Exercises like dead bugs, glute bridges, and planks are all great examples of movements that will help strengthen your back. Additionally, they will decrease your chances of getting any other low back pain.
To get familiar with the feeling of planting your low back on the ground:
- Lay on your back with your legs in the air, squeezing a block or tennis ball between your legs. Try to flatten your low back to the ground.
- Slowly start to lower your legs, squeezing around the block/ tennis ball (a slight bend of the knees is fine).
- Just before you feel your low back try to lift off of the ground, squeeze the block, push the low back toward the ground underneath you, and take three deep breaths.
- Then slowly raise your legs back up to the starting position.
There are so many non-ab-specific exercises that can give you a “sneaky” core workout- lunges, kettlebell swings, bodyweight squats. Adding them to your routine will help you gain core strength without ever having to do a crunch or twist, so you can work on your essential core strength while hitting other big muscle groups at the same time.
To recap- sit-ups aren’t bad for you when performed correctly. Just make sure you have a strong enough core without your back coming off of the floor until you progress to being able to perform them safely.
To watch a demonstration of three great ab exercises that you can do without the side effects of back pain, check out my technique video! I chose three great core techniques that can be easily done at home and won’t leave you wondering whether or not you’re doing them right. Click the link below to find out how.
And for more tips like this to help you or a loved one ease low back pain, here is a free guide to help you keep active with less back pain
P.S. I’ve also included bonus techniques that aim to decrease low back and piriformis pain! Click below to find out how you can eliminate your pain at home 🙂
Piriformis Stretches
Pelvic Tilt
Dr, Nick’s greatest passion is seeing his patients recover from injury and return to their activities that bring them joy.
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December 12, 2017
