Nearly two thirds of Americans experience low back pain at some point in their life. Over 30% of Americans do not seek medical help to manage their back pain and of those that do seek help, over 70% are taking pain medications. Physical therapists are working hard to educate Americans on how to decrease their back pain without the need for opioid medications. One of the best ways to manage back pain is to keep MOVING and one of the best ways to do this is by walking daily. The worst way to manage back pain is by staying in bed and not moving. As joints stop moving, they become stiffer which in turn causes more pain. By moving, you are lubricating the joints in your spine to promote movement which can improve pain. Below are 3 simple exercises that promote movement, that you can try if you are experiencing low back pain. If you do not see any changes in your low back pain after trying these exercises, you will likely benefit from a one-on-one examination by a physical therapist. You should call a physician or physical therapist if your back pain is accompanied with loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness or tingling in your feet or legs, or inability to walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n