Cracking your back, or as we call it manipulating your back or adjusting your back, can help relieve back pain. But make sure the cause of your back pain is diagnosed FIRST because with some back issues you should NEVER crack your back
The first way to crack your back is by using a foam roller. I like the ones that are slightly softer so it gives a little along your spine.
Next, you can get into a long sit position. This can also stretch your piriformis muscle and erector spinae muscles in your back. The twisting motion may help you get a pop in your back.
Then you can do an egg roll or a double knee to chest with a roll. This one is a little more difficult, but works well at getting your back to crack if you don’t have a foam roll.
Now you will sit in a chair and twist your body. Once you start the twist, get to the end range, and then do a quick push.
Finally, you can get a more gentle back manipulation on a swiss ball or therapy/stability ball. This is also a great stretch for your back.
Getting Back Pain Relief can be a daily challenge, whether the back pain occurs in the morning after waking up or at the end of a long day. This guided, real-time back stretching routine is designed to help relieve back pain, back stiffness, and improve back flexibility, whether you are starting or ending your day (or anywhere in between).
Pickleball back pain is a common injury among people of all ages from this popular sport. The stretches & exercises in this video will help strengthen, relieve pain, and loosen up the muscles around the back and hip area to help relieve back pain from Pickleball.
Therapeutic Yoga can help relieve back pain by incorporating physical therapy & yoga. Trudy, a fellow PT & registered yoga teacher, stops by to show me stretches & exercises for back pain relief.
Low back pain can make it difficult to perform everyday activities. Here are three of my favorite lower back pain relief stretches that can be done lying down.
One of the most effective back pain relief stretches is the prayer stretch, also known as child’s pose. However, this popular stretch can be challenging for those who cannot get down on the floor or put pressure on their knees. Fortunately, there is an excellent alternative: the seated rolldown stretch. This modification provides a comprehensive back and whole body stretch without the need to kneel or lie on the floor.
Stretches & exercises are a great way to help relieve back pain. But with nearly 1,000 videos on the Ask Doctor Jo YouTube Channel, it can be hard to find the best one for you. So for 2025, here are some of my favorite Back Pain Relief Videos that actually work!
The lower back can be a hard area to stretch depending on what is causing the pain. My favorite exercise for this area is a pelvic tilt. It’s a great exercise as well as a stretch for the low back, hips, and pelvis.
In this video, I teamed up with Dr. Jen, a pelvic floor physical therapist who also happens to be pregnant! She'll show you her top 5 exercises to help relieve low back pain when you are pregnant by mobilizing and stabilizing the pelvis.