lower back exercises

[robefc]

I do good mornings for the lower back. I've been told to keep the back straight when doing so and that the lower back muscles then get worked isometrically.

I would have thought that the lower back muscles would get greater stimulas from lumbar flexion which would obviously involve rounding the back. Since good mornings only use very little weight would this be the way to go or do people agree with keeping the back straight?

The same applies to extensions.

In addition, is lying on the floor and doing back raises (just a few inches obviously) beneficial or just a good way to strain your back?

Thanks for any comments

[Toddler]

One word for you - Deadlifts

I never did deadlifts until a few years ago - prior to that I was doing good mornings and back extensions. Since I started doing deadlifts my lower and middle back have thickened up a lot.

I guess it depends on your goals, but even if you are not looking to add mass, deadlifts with a moderate weight would probably be the best all-round lower back exercise.

In response to your question about lying on your belly and then doing 'back-raises', I think this would be relatively pointless, but may be a good stretch for the abs.

Hope this helps


Toddler

[robefc]

I have two problems with deadlifts

1) the gym I'm in now only has dumbells, I relise you can deadlift with them but they only go up to 30kg (60-70kg)

2) I've just started HST so want to keep all the exercises the same, basically I've been doing abs and lower back as my last two exercises

because there are no barbells I do good mornings with dumbells held much you like you would in a deadlift but with very light weights.

I do intend to incorporate deadlifts when i move gyms but not for now.

[DawgPound]

I do bb GMs and like the exercise a lot. I do keep my back straight, and I go heavy on it since I train using Westside. I've just never known a case when rounding the back is good for your lower back.

I don't know if you can, but instead of doing back raises, why don't you do reverse hypers?

On a side note, I would definitely switch gyms. A gym that does not have bbs should not be called a gym.

[RippedGuitarist]

Deadlifts all the way man. I started doing them 2 weeks ago, and my back has grown more than it has in the past too months. Its a great excercise

For Goodmornings, keep your back completely straight, bending it will mostlikely cause an injury. Same thing with SLDL and regular Deads.

As for raise, they don't really interest me. Hyperextensions however I think they are great, I do a few sets of them every week.

[robefc]

Originally posted by DawgPound
I do bb GMs and like the exercise a lot. I do keep my back straight, and I go heavy on it since I train using Westside. I've just never known a case when rounding the back is good for your lower back.

I don't know if you can, but instead of doing back raises, why don't you do reverse hypers?

On a side note, I would definitely switch gyms. A gym that does not have bbs should not be called a gym.

just to improve your opinion of my gym - can't do hyper extensions as don't have the right equipment! could use the swiss ball but have nothing to trap my feet under. Trust me, I know its rubbish but I'm temping at the moment and will move away when I get a job so I can't afford to join a decent gym, will straight away, I prefer dumells to barbells for presses etc but will be good to get back to benching for variety and to start deadlifting as I've never done it so i'm keen to see the effect it has.

for now I'll stick with doing my good mornings with a straight back

cheers for all the advice

[MDC]

Good luck getting a job! I'm going to add deadlifts to my program as soon as I get over this cold(haven't worked out since last week). I could even do them at home now that I've bought some additional 50lb plates. I'm going to have my wife try them as well.