Do you struggle with lower back pain?
We often combine lower back stability (i.e. a plank), whilst moving the arms or legs
If you think about it, this is exactly how the lower back works in everyday life
It stabilises the middle of your body while you run, swim, reach for a box etc
So it makes more sense to train it this way
In this example we’ve added a reach
A reach is really beneficial in a couple of ways, firstly you’re moving your arms, but also working on upper back mobility by reaching as far as you can each time
People often think their lower back is tight because their core is weak, which may be true
However, it’s probably also a result of the lower back having to do the work of a stiff upper back
The plank with reach allows you to stabilise the core muscles while getting some really good movement into the upper back
Stable lower back
Mobile upper back
Two birds with one stone
The key with this exercise is to:
Nail the stabilisation, slight tuck of the hips, and try to keep them steady
Reach as far as you can with the arm
Chuck these into your routine and get creative
You might even move a small weight plate from under your hand to in front of your head to make it more interesting
Watch the below video for how to perform the exercise: