back to the work of Goldthwait (1952), but have recently been refined through the research of Hodges and Richardson at the University of Queensland (1997). The version used here has been further modified and simplified by the CHEK Institute of San Diego

If you've harboured secret desires of having the flexibility and grace of a ballet dancer, you'll love Dandayamana Dhanurasana.Even if you're just looking for a more flexible lower back or an end to back pain, you'll love the sixth pose

of your spine, pulling you upwards. Start with just 20 and work your way up to 100. And hey, why stop there?2. ‘Good mornings’ are another exercise for lower-back strength.They’re very effective and give your hamstrings a good stretch into the deal

worked: Hamstrings, lower back, adductors and abductors (inner thighs)How to do it:1.   Step your feet wide to about 4 feet apart keeping the inside of the feet parallel to each other. Place hands on hips.2.   Inhale and lift your chest, lengthening

.Ardha Kurmasana stretches the back and shoulders, and creates a stretch in the ribcage which allows full expansion of the lungs during breathing.Ardha Kurmasana: Step by Step1. Kneel down at the back of your mat with your feet and knees together. Inhale

disrobed and lying beneath a sheet. A massage generally lasts between 30 and 90 minutes. Case study When Sophie Wright, 16, pulled out of a recent 400m race with a stiff, sore back after just 10 strides, she feared the worst. She’d thought back problems

for 45 to 60 minutes, their blood pressure fell - specifically, by an average of 10.4 millimetres of mercury (mm/Hg) systolic, and 5.3 (mm/Hg) diastolic. The effect of plinky-plonky music on blood pressure has not been measured.Lower-back pain

's important to keep flexibility in all directions of the spine."Ustrasana: Step by Step1. Stand up on your knees, hip distance apart. Place your palms on your lower back, fingers facing down (as if you were slipping your hands into your back pockets). Your

problems in your back, they often come to the surface when you start running because it is quite a compressive sport,” says Leach. “You need to make sure the biomechanics of your lower back are working at 100 per cent.” If there are mechanical weaknesses

on the floor, knees slightly apart and bum resting on heels. (If you can't manage this kneel back as far as you can and rest your hands on the floor to support your weight).2. Move your feet apart (tops of feet resting on the floor and toes pointing backwards