Guidelines for abdominal exercise and back exercise for better health

1. Do not start exercises for the first time during an acute back pain episode without first consulting a physician or a spine specialist.
2. Do not stop exercising just because pain diminishes or an injury appears "healed"; rather, add back and abdominal exercises into a daily routine.
3. Complete a combination of flexion and extension exercises to balance the trunk muscles.
4. In general, do exercises in sets of 3 to 5 repetitions a minimum of 4 times a week.
5. Be patient; strength building may take 6 weeks or more to show results.