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Dr M.D.S. SasidharanSpine Surgeon · Chennai

Preventive Care

Spine Strengthening Exercises

Simple, portable exercises that require no special equipment to strengthen your spine, core and supporting muscles at home.

Before starting any exercises, consult your doctor. Don't be impatient — overdoing exercise may cause the injury you are trying to prevent.

Cervical Spine Exercises

5 guided exercises

Neck Strengthening exercise illustration1

Neck Strengthening

Stand or sit straight in a neutral position with your head normal. Bend your head slowly to the left side and hold for 3 seconds, then return to neutral and rest. Repeat 10 times on each side.

Neck Rotation exercise illustration2

Neck Rotation

Sit or stand straight with your head in a normal position. Turn your head slowly to the left until you feel a stretch, hold for 5 seconds, then return to neutral and rest. Repeat 10 times.

Neck Retraction exercise illustration3

Neck Retraction

Sit or stand straight. Place a finger on the front of your chin and push your head backward slowly until you feel a stretch. Hold for 5 seconds, return to neutral and rest. Repeat 10 times.

Neck Tilt exercise illustration4

Neck Tilt

Relax your shoulders and tilt your head towards the left until you feel a stretch. Hold for 5 seconds and rest, then repeat on the right side. Repeat 10 times in total.

Chin Tuck exercise illustration5

Chin Tuck

Look straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly and move your head backward slowly until you feel a stretch. Hold for 5 seconds, bring your head forward and rest. Repeat 10–15 times.

Shoulder Exercises

5 guided exercises

Arm Circles exercise illustration1

Arm Circles

Stand straight with feet shoulder-width apart and arms extended out at shoulder height. Rotate your arms slowly clockwise for 10–20 circles, rest, then reverse direction. Repeat 10 times.

Shoulder Rolls exercise illustration2

Shoulder Rolls

Stand straight with feet shoulder-width apart. Rotate your shoulders forward in small circles 10–20 times, rest, then repeat backward. Repeat 10 times.

Supine Arms Overhead exercise illustration3

Supine Arms Overhead

Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat. Extend your arms fully behind your head, then move an arm along the floor toward your hip and return. Repeat 10 times.

Supine March exercise illustration4

Supine March

Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat. Press your lower back into the floor and slowly raise one leg keeping the knee bent. Hold 5 seconds, lower, and alternate legs. Repeat 10 times.

Shoulder Retraction exercise illustration5

Shoulder Retraction

Stand with arms in front and thumbs up. Move your arms out to the sides while squeezing your shoulder blades together, hold for 5 seconds, return and rest. Repeat 10 times.

Lumbar Spine Exercises

6 guided exercises

Abdominal Bracing exercise illustration1

Abdominal Bracing

Lie on your back with heels flat and a hand on your side. Lift and squeeze your pelvic floor muscles, hold for a few seconds, then lower slowly and rest. Repeat 2–3 times.

Curl Up exercise illustration2

Curl Up

Lie on your back with arms straight and knees slightly bent. Raise your upper body by flexing your abdominal muscles to touch your elbows to your thighs, then rest. Repeat 2–3 times.

Straight Leg Raise exercise illustration3

Straight Leg Raise

Lie on your back with hands at your sides and legs straight. Raise your legs slowly until your body forms an L shape, hold for 5 seconds, then lower both legs slowly. Repeat 5–10 times.

Leg Lifts exercise illustration4

Leg Lifts

Lie on your back with palms down beside you. Raise your legs 45° off the ground keeping your knees locked, hold for 5–10 seconds, then return to start. Repeat 5–10 times.

Push Ups exercise illustration5

Push Ups

With legs extended back and hands slightly wider than your shoulders, bend your elbows to lower your chest until just above the floor. Pause 10 seconds, push back up. Repeat 5–10 times.

Bicycle Crunches exercise illustration6

Bicycle Crunches

Lie on your back with hands behind your head. Crunch and bring one elbow toward the opposite knee, then switch sides, going back and forth quickly. Repeat 5–10 times.

Isometric AB Exercises

4 guided exercises

Front Plank exercise illustration1

Front Plank

Lie face down with forearms on the floor, legs extended and feet together. Push into your forearms to raise your body in a straight line from head to feet. Hold 10–15 seconds, lower and rest. Repeat 2–3 times.

Side Plank exercise illustration2

Side Plank

Lie on one side with your upper foot stacked on the lower and your elbow under your shoulder. Lift your hips and knees off the floor keeping your torso straight. Hold 10–15 seconds, lower and rest. Repeat 2–3 times.

Bridge exercise illustration3

Bridge

Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat. Lift your pelvis and lower back off the floor, hold for 5 seconds, then lower slowly and rest. Repeat 2–3 times.

Quadruped exercise illustration4

Quadruped

Kneel on both knees with hands flat on the floor. Raise your left leg to hip height and right arm to shoulder height, hold 5 seconds, return and rest. Repeat 8–15 times with the other arm and leg.

Knee Exercises

7 guided exercises

Quad Sets exercise illustration1

Quad Sets

Lie flat or sit with one leg straight and a rolled towel under the knee. Pull your toes back and push the towel down with your kneecap while contracting the muscle. Hold 5–10 seconds. Repeat 10–20 times.

Hamstring Sets exercise illustration2

Hamstring Sets

Lie flat on your back with knees bent and heels on the floor. Press the back of your heel firmly down and hold for 10 seconds, then rest. Repeat 20 times.

Knee Extension exercise illustration3

Knee Extension

Sit in a firm, straight-backed chair with knees 6 inches apart. Slightly lift your foot and straighten your leg in front, then lower it slowly to the floor and rest. Repeat 8–15 times per leg.

Heel Raises exercise illustration4

Heel Raises

Stand behind a sturdy chair and hold the back for balance. Slowly raise your heels without leaning forward, hold for 2–3 seconds, then lower slowly and rest. Repeat 8–15 times.

Heel Slides exercise illustration5

Heel Slides

Lie flat or sit with legs stretched out. Slide your heel toward your buttocks keeping it on the floor, hold 5–10 seconds, then slide back slowly and rest. Repeat 8–15 times.

Short Arc Quad exercise illustration6

Short Arc Quad

Lie flat with a small rolled towel under one knee and the other knee bent. Slightly lift your foot to straighten the knee, then lower slowly to the floor and rest. Repeat 8–15 times per leg.

Bent Knee Fallout exercise illustration7

Bent Knee Fallout

Lie flat with knees bent and heels on the floor. Slowly drop one knee to the side, rolling onto the side of your foot, hold a few seconds, then return to start and rest. Repeat 8–15 times per leg.

Hip Exercises

6 guided exercises

Glute Sets exercise illustration1

Glute Sets

Lie flat on your back with knees bent at a 10–15° angle. Squeeze your buttock muscles together, hold for 5 seconds, then rest. Repeat 10–15 times.

Ankle Circles exercise illustration2

Ankle Circles

Sit straight with legs flat on the floor. Make a circle with your ankle, then repeat with both legs. Repeat 10–15 times.

Ankle Pumps exercise illustration3

Ankle Pumps

Sit straight with legs flat on the floor. Pull your toes toward you, hold for 5 seconds and rest, then repeat with the other foot. Repeat 10–15 times.

Hip Abduction exercise illustration4

Hip Abduction

Stand 8 inches behind a sturdy chair and hold the back for balance. Keep your left leg straight and slowly lift your right leg sideways without rotating your hips. Hold 5 seconds, return and rest. Repeat 10–15 times.

Hip Extension exercise illustration5

Hip Extension

Stand 8 inches behind a sturdy chair, holding the back for balance. Bend your trunk forward 45° and extend your right leg behind you, then slowly lower your foot to the floor and rest. Repeat 8–15 times per leg.

Pillow Squeeze exercise illustration6

Pillow Squeeze

Lie flat on your back with knees bent and a pillow between your knees. Squeeze the pillow with your knees only, hold for 5 seconds, then rest. Repeat 10–15 times.

Take the first step toward a pain-free spine

Book a consultation with Dr. M.D.S. Sasidharan in Chennai for an expert, evidence-based assessment.