What do you do when your back hurts? Do you stop exercising? Do you sleep on it? Fast becoming a common ailment for the sedentary working classes, back pain must not be taken lightly.

If after consulting a doctor or expert, it turns out that your back pain is not bone or joint related, then weak core muscles are usually to blame.

This can arise from lack of exercise, low physical activity, poor posture, bad form while lifting heavy objects or poor seated posture while commuting (especially over bad roads). Neglecting back pain can catapult into long term back problems. Hence we spoke to our expert on Strength and Conditioning – Arnav Sarkar. He enforces core exercises as a solution to reduce back problems. Here’s what he says…

“The first thing to do is consult a specialist and he will guide you on the appropriate exercises. When someone has back pain, they must first consult their doctor to know which exercises are completely off limits and which are the ones that they can follow. In general, there are some exercises that should be best avoided for those with back pain. These would include sit-ups, lying leg raises, standing toe touches, long distance jogging, etc.”

Arnav further explains, “However, it should be noted that avoiding exercise altogether is not the solution for back pain. Strengthening your body and developing your cardio system is a very efficient way to combat back pain. Core strengthening exercises and stretching will help to reduce back pain, similarly aerobic activities like walking and swimming are also a reliable option for those with back pain.”