Back extensions are often discussed online as if they are a solution for lower back pain, so I wanted to look at their value from the perspective of a well-renowned coach: Charles Poliquin.

Poliquin was a well-known strength coach who worked with elite and Olympic-level athletes, which is why he is frequently referenced by online influencers and fitness professionals.

Interestingly Poliquin didn’t view back extensions as a miracle exercise and he didn’t present them as a guaranteed fix for lower back problems – unlike some of those quoting him. Instead he viewed back extensions primarily as a strength training tool.

This distinction is important because exercises are often taken out of context online. An exercise that has a place in strength training does not automatically mean it is the best choice for managing pain or rehabilitation. And in fact, it is just one tool among many.

What does a back extension involve?

The type of back extension discussed by Poliquin is typically per...

Running is a popular activity; it’s great for your cardiovascular system, but can put a lot of stress on your joints. It’s a repetitive stress due to the long duration; this fatigues muscles and leaves you more prone to injury or pain.

There are a number of reasons why your back hurts after you run, one being, long duration. Others include; disc injury, vertebral fractures or sciatica. The latter are more serious that might effect a small number of the population. In this blog you’ll learn about common problems I find in people that are much more simple to overcome.

• Hip trigger points
• Poor core stability
• Poor core strength
• Training plan

Hip trigger points

Trigger points are small knots in muscles that cause pain elsewhere in the body. Trigger point in your hip can cause pain in your low-back, buttocks and legs.

Causes

Trigger points are caused by muscle injury or overuse, which harks back to the long duration of running. As a general rule I find the glutei medius and glute...