Upper Body Workouts A Simple, Effective Back Workout to Strengthen and Stretch By Paige Waehner, CPT Paige Waehner, CPT Facebook LinkedIn Paige Waehner is a certified personal trainer, author of the "Guide to Become a Personal Trainer"; and co-author of "The Buzz on Exercise & Fitness." Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 28, 2021 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Heather Black, CPT Reviewed by Heather Black, CPT Heather Black, CPT is a NASM-certified personal trainer and owner of Heather Black Fitness & Nutrition where she offers remote and in-person training and nutrition coaching. Learn about our Review Board Print The following is a simple workout to stretch and strengthen the back with a mix of dynamic and static stretches as well as elements of yoga. Perform this workout as often as you like, modifying whenever necessary to fit your fitness level and goals. Precautions: If you have specific back problems, see your doctor before trying these exercises. Equipment: An exercise ball and a medicine ball How to Perform the Exercises: Start with about a 5 minute warm-up of light cardio Do each exercise for the suggested reps, one after the other Complete one circuit for a shorter workout or go through the exercises 2-3 times for a longer, more intense workout 1 Sun Salutations Begin in a standing position and inhale as you sweep the arms up and overhead. Exhale and engage the abs as you tip from the hips and lower into a forward bend, with hands on the floor or feet. Bend the knees if you need to. Inhale and come up until the back is flat and exhale into a forward bend. Inhale and come back up, sweeping the arms overhead until palms touch. Repeat the series 4 to 8 times. 2 Ball Rollouts Place your arms on the ball, parallel to one another. Pulling your belly button towards your spine and tightening your torso, slowly roll forward until your chest touches the ball. Keeping form, slowly pull your body back using your arms and abdominals. Don't collapse as you roll forward. Repeat for 12 reps. 3 Standing Cat Stretch Lower into a squat with the hands on the thighs, back arched. Pull the abs in and round the back up towards the ceiling. Lower and repeat 15 times. Repeat for 15 reps. How to Get a Stronger Back With These Standing Back Exercises 4 Med Ball Rotations on the Ball Lie with the ball under your shoulders and lower back and hold a light-medium medicine ball over the chest. Hold your body in a straight line from hips to knees. Tightening your glutes and abs, slowly twist your body to the left, sweeping med ball parallel to the floor, then back up, repeating on the other side. Repeat for 12 reps to each side. 5 Pelvic Tilt on the Ball Lie at an incline position on the ball with the hips down, head supported by the head and feeling a stretch in the abs. Without rolling on the ball, squeeze the hips up then lower and repeat. Repeat for 15 reps. 6 Crunches on the Ball Lie on the ball and place the hands behind the head. Lift the shoulder blades off the ball as you crunch up, squeezing the abs. Repeat for 15 reps. 7 Bridge Lie face up with knees bent and hands at your sides. Slowly, uncurl your spine off the mat, one vertebra at a time until you're in a bridge position, body in a straight line from knees to head. Arch up as high as you can, squeezing the back, then lower back down by slowly uncurling the spine onto the mat. Repeat for 12 reps. 8 Knees to Chest Pull the knees into the chest with the hands behind the knees. Try to keep the tailbone on the floor to stretch the lower back. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds. 9 Oblique Knee Drops With a Med Ball Bring the knees up and bend them to 90 degrees, shins parallel to the floor and arms out to the sides. Hold a medicine ball between the knees (optional). Contract the abs and rotate the torso to lower the legs to the right, bringing them down to the floor. Bring the knees back to center and lower to the left side. Repeat for 10 reps to each side. 10 Spine Twist While lying face up on the mat, bend the right leg and place the right foot on the left knee. Slowly twist to the left while taking the right hand straight out on the floor, the left hand gently pressing on the right knee. Relax into the stretch and feel it in your lower back and hips. Hold for 15-30 seconds and repeat on the other side. 11 Cobra With a Leg Lift In a prone position, place the hands next to the chest and squeeze the lower back to push the chest off the floor. Keep the shoulder blades pulled down. Lift the right leg off the floor and hold for two seconds, lower and repeat on the other leg. 15 reps on each side. 12 Child's Pose From the previous exercise, push back onto the knees then sit back on the heels as you stretch the arms straight out in front of you, forehead resting on the floor. Breathe and relax the muscles of the back. Hold for 15-30 seconds or as long as you like. By Paige Waehner, CPT Paige Waehner is a certified personal trainer, author of the "Guide to Become a Personal Trainer," and co-author of "The Buzz on Exercise & Fitness." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit