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12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
 

by Dressage Rider Training

In this article, I will run through rider back stretches and hip mobility work to help release lower back and hip pain in riders.

The human body has this amazing ability to heal itself. At any age and in nearly any state especially when given the right environment to do so. Our body will put up with a huge amount of silly movement and poor lifestyle choices for a long time because we have a large amount of functional tolerance built into us.

However we shouldn’t abuse this high tolerance and instead, we should ensure we listen and take care of our body on a daily basis. Because those little signs and symptoms that do appear can turn into bigger uglier problems later on if not taken care of. Just as a tree moulds to its environment over the years from the different weather patterns, so too does our body.

So if that environment is creating niggles and imbalances, which you ignore and only fix the symptoms, it could continue to be an issue for much longer. So given that we have this amazing body that can repair and heal itself with the right tools and environment it makes sense that we would want to pay attention to both areas when aiming to improve our rider wellbeing.

These rider back stretches and exercises are designed to help relieve lower back or hip pain, which is an incredibly common problem and often created because of the environment our bodies are placed in each and every day. So as much you want to do these stretches, pay attention to other possible changes you can make to your daily life. Such as when we sit this can be for long durations at a time and this can cause tightness in our hamstrings, shoulders, hip flexors, and compression in our lower back. To combat this, consider adding in more standing and walking into your day. Try this, for every 30 minutes of sitting you do per day, aim to do 2 minutes of walking or aim to spend 50% of your day on your feet, be it with a stand-up desk or walking meetings.


When it comes to riding, you want to ensure you are sitting evenly in the saddle and that your spine is in neutral to maintain proper posture.

Alignment matters when it comes to riding and this isn’t about just a pretty picture, its also about ensuring our body works evenly and optimally to prevent undue wear and tear. This is why when we turn up to ride we want to ensure we are doing our best off the horse to promote good posture because adding the horse’s movement and force to an uneven, unaligned body is that poor environment I am talking about. Your body may or may not put up with this for a while, but eventually, it will catch up and decrease those riding years.

Taking care of your body today, allows you to continue to do the things you love for as long as you choose.

Try these specific rider back stretches to help improve how your body feels each and every day.

12 Rider Back Stretches

Here are some fantastic rider back stretches to help you do just that if you need options for each exercise be sure to watch the video where I demonstrate each one.

1. Childs Pose

This is fantastic for helping to relieve tension through the lower back and help to open up your hips.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Have your feet together and your knees wide. Then sit back on your heels and reach your arms forward. Rest your head down and focus on your breathing. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds.

 

2. Key Hole Stretch

This is great for stretching into your glutes, piriformis, and lower back.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Laying down on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Bend your right knee and place your right ankle onto your left knee. Reach your hands through to grab your left thigh and pull everything in towards you. Keep your head down as you stretch. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds

 

3. Key Hole Spinal Twist

This is great for helping to improve internal hip rotation and stretch into the glutes, lower back.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Start by lying down on your back. Bend your knees and place your feet on the ground, hip-width apart.
Bend your right knee and place your right ankle above your left knee on the thigh, then allow your knees to fall to the right as you take your eyes the other direction. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds

 

4. Half Lotus

This is great for getting into your hip flexors as well as stretching out your piriformis and glutes.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Seating evenly on both seat bones, with your legs crossed, lift your left heel and place it onto your right thigh with your foot flexed, then allow your upper body to tip forward with a long spine. If you need to you can sit on a cushion to lift your seat bones up off the floor and have your feet further in front of you.

 

5. Seated forward fold

A great way to help stretch out the lower back and hamstrings

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Sitting evenly on both seat bones, with your legs long in front. Allow your upper body to fold forward with your spine nice a long. Aim to look towards your toes as you breathe and gently stretch. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds

 

6. Wrapped Spinal Twist

This stretch helps to get into the glutes, ITB and lower back.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Laying on your back, cross your right leg over your left and if you can tuck the foot right behind your calf, if not, just wrap as tight as you can. Then allow the legs to fall gently to the left. Take your eyes the opposite direction and breathe. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds

 

7. Runners Lunge

A stretch to get into your hip flexors and quadriceps.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Have your hands down on the floor and step your right foot outside of your right hand. Then gradually slide your left knee backward and press your hip forwards to feel a stretch through your hip.Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds

 

8. Adductors

Our adductors can get tight as riders and this is a great way to open them up and get into your hip flexors and the same time.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Start with your feet out wide and toes pointing 45 degrees. Sit backward and place your hands on your thighs, gently press your thighs wide. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds

 

9. Wide Leg Forward Fold

This helps open up the lower back and stretch the hamstrings.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Have your feet wide and try to angle your toes slightly in. Then bend your knees and fold your chest over forward. Let your hands rest on the ground and bend your knees as much as you need to begin with. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds

 

10. Cow Face Pose

This stretch is for outer hips and the lower back.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
In a seated position, place your bent right knee on top of your bent left knee. Aim to wrap your legs as tight as you can and have your feet flexed. If you need you can sit on a cushion to prop the hips up and allow even weight on both seat bones. With your legs stacked, let your upper body fold forward and have your hands out in front.Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds.

 

11. Seated Twist

This stretch releases the lower back, glutes, and piriformis.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
Sitting down, with your legs straight in front, draw your left heel in towards your right sit bone. Then cross it over your right thigh. If this is enough, stay here. Or take it further by bending your right foot in also. Sit up tall and breathe as you look behind you to intensify the stretch. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds

 

12. Happy Baby Pose

This stretch is great for opening up the lower back.

12 Stretches to Release Lower Back and Hip Pain In Riders
On your back, bend your knees and draw them in towards your chest. Reach your hands on the inside of your thighs and take a hold of the outside edge of your feet. As you draw your feet down, think of pressing your lower back into the floor. Aim to hold for 30-60 seconds.

Take a look at the video above as I demonstrate each exercise and guide you through the options and adjustments. Aim to do this regularly to help prevent any tightness in your back and remember to pay attention to other factors in your environment to. Riding isn’t just about the horse, we are a team and it makes sense that you want to pay attention to your wellness each and every day as much as you do your horses.

Hope you find this useful and I hope it helps you to be able to enjoy your riding even more. Taking the time to do specific rider back stretches and hip mobility work can really make a big impact on how you feel in the saddle.

To get more information and resources to help your riding, be sure to download our free guide. Then to take your riding to the next level check out our 12 Week Dressage Rider Training Program, specifically designed to focus on your posture and performance as a dressage rider. Learn more here.

This article originally appeared on Dressage Rider Training and is published here with permission. Find other interesting articles in our sections on Health & Education, Clinicians and Trainers and Dressage.

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