Relieve Back Pain with Foundation Training

Foundation Training Philosophy
If you've ever had back pain, you may be familiar with the advice to strengthen your core. When you have pain, most people tell you to strengthen your abdominals. This is because many experts believe that strong abs will reduce pressure on your spine. However, this approach doesn't address the back muscles themselves. Also, if all you do is practice crunches, the forward flexion of that exercise can further strain the back.

 

Instead, Here's a different approach. Dr. Eric Goodman, creator of Foundation Training, flips the training emphasis from the front to the back of the body in order to relieve back pain. His exercises directly strengthen the deep stability muscles of the back. He defines the core as the posterior chain, which is the neck, back, butt, hamstrings and heels. So, if you work this chain together, you'll improve your back strength. As a result, you'll have less pain.

 

In addition to addressing muscle weakness, Foundation Training also addresses faulty movement patterns that can keep you in pain. Let me explain. The lower back is designed to be a stable joint. Most of us, however, flex at the lower back to bend forward and pick something off the floor. Try it! Go ahead! Bend forward, and then observe the movement of your back. Most likely, it rounded forward. This is a faulty movement pattern. We bend forward from our spine instead of using our more powerful hips. Using the back in this way puts excessive pressure on the small muscles of the back. This causes degeneration and, ultimately, chronic pain.

 

In his book Foundation, Dr. Goodman outlines three progressive exercise routines. The fundamental exercise of the program is The Founder which is demonstrated in the video below.

 

 

The Foundation exercises might be a good compliment to your exercise program. I plan to give them a try and see how my back responds. I hope you will do the same! If you do, let me know what you experience.