Don't Forget the Trunk and Spine in Your Daily Stretching Routine, or Pre and Post Practice

Warm Up and Recovery Stretch - Trunk and Spine

It's so important to maintain a healthy flexibility in our back and core. To help give you some ideas that might work for you, and maybe even shake up your current routine - see below.

Trnsversus Abdomninis Stretch Trigger Points

Technique: While sitting on a chair with your feet flat on the ground, look straight ahead and keep your body upright. Slowly bend to the left or right while reaching towards the ground with one hand. Do not bend forward.

Primary muscles: Quadratus lumborum. External and internal obliques.

Secondary muscles: Iliocostalis lumborum. Intertransversarii. Rotatores. Multifidus.

Injury where stretch may be useful: Back muscle strain. Back ligament sprain. Abdominal muscle strain (obliques).

Note: Do not lean forward or backward, concentrate on keeping your upper body straight. Use a strong and sturdy chair!

Abdominal Stretch Trigger Point Therapy

Technique: Kneel on the ground and raise one arm. Then rotate your shoulders and middle back while looking upwards.

Primary muscles: Semispinalis thoracis. Spinalis thoracis. Longissimus thoracis. Iliocostalis thoracis. Iliocostalis lumborum. Multifidus. Rotatores. Intertransversarii. Interspinales.

Secondary muscles: External and internal obliques. Pectoralis major.

Injury where stretch may be useful: Back muscle strain. Back ligament sprain. Abdominal muscle strain (obliques).

Note: Keep your arm pointing straight upward and follow your hand with your eyes. This will help to further extend the stretch into your neck.

Technique: Kneel on your hands and knees. Look up and let your back slump downwards.

Primary muscles: Gluteus maximus.

Secondary muscles: Transversus abdominis. Rectus abdominis.

Injury where stretch may be useful: Neck muscle strain. Whiplash (neck sprain). Cervical nerve stretch syndrome. Wry neck (acute torticollis). Back muscle strain. Back ligament sprain.

Note: Perform this stretch slowly and deliberately, resting your weight evenly on both your knees and hands.

Technique: Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart and look forward. Keep your body upright and slowly bend to the left or right. Reach down your leg with your hand and do not bend forward.

Primary muscles: Quadratus lumborum. External and internal obliques.

Secondary muscles: Iliocostalis lumborum. Intertransversarii. Rotatores. Multifidus.

Injury where stretch may be useful: Lower back muscle strain. Lower back ligament sprain. Abdominal muscle strain (obliques).

Note: Do not lean forward or backward. It's important to concentrate on keeping your upper body straight.

TRUNK AND SPINE

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