Lower back pain is one of the most common health related complaints in western society. It is estimated that 4 out of every 5 adults over 16 will at some time suffer from lower back pain ranging from a couple of days to several months at a time. Acute back pain is a huge cause of sick days at work and even though it often gets better of its own accord, it is important if you suffer from back pain to work out the root cause and remove it.

Moderate exercise, stretching, yoga and of course the Makko Ho are great ways alleviate lower back pain, and once you are back (haha) to health, doing the Makko Ho everyday can help in preventing back pain. Of course you should pay attention to you posture when sitting and take the usual precautions when lifting heavy objects, but a good stretching routine can help to keep your back healthy and pain free.

So, what are the best Makko Ho exercises to help alleviate and prevent lower back pain?
Well, the 3rd Makko Ho exercise that stretches the Heart and Small Intestine meridian is a good one to help stretch out the lower back. This is often called a butterfly stretch. The portion of the stretch when you gentle lean your body forward has a nice opening effect on the lower back. The 5th Makko Ho stretch which targets the Heart Protector and Tripple Heater is very similar and can also stretch out the lower back nicely.