Abs and Back Pain Revisited

A recent New York Tines article (Is Your Ab Workout Hurting Your Back?) took a close look at the conventional wisdom that strengthening your deep abdominal muscles will prevent or alleviate back pain. The current thinking is that it doesn't make sense to work the deep abs in isolation, and doing so may even worsen back aches. Instead, do exercises that integrate all the muscles that support the spine, including the yoga poses side plank and hands and knees balance.