All Exercises
Lower Back

Lower Back Exercises

Exercises targeting Lower Back.

Showing 1–30 of 119 exercises

Atlas Stones

Begin with the atlas stone between your feet. Bend at the hips to wrap your arms vertically around the Atlas Stone, attempting to get your fingers underneath the stone. Many stones will have a small flat portion on the bottom, which will make the stone easier to hold.

Lower Back
Core
Adductors
Advanced

Atlas Stone Trainer

This trainer is effective for developing Atlas Stone strength for those who don't have access to stones, and are typically made from bar ends or heavy pipe.

Lower Back
Biceps
Forearms
Intermediate

Axle Deadlift

Approach the bar so that it is centered over your feet. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the bar at shoulder width, allowing your shoulder blades to protract. Typically, you would use an over/under grip.

Lower Back
Forearms
Glutes
Intermediate

Backward Drag

Load a sled with the desired weight, attaching a rope or straps to the sled that you can hold onto.

Quadriceps
Calves
Forearms
Beginner

Band Good Morning

The Band Good Morning is a hip-hinge exercise that strengthens the posterior chain, primarily targeting the hamstrings and glutes while challenging core and lower back stability. It's a useful movement for teaching proper hip-hinge mechanics with easily adjustable resistance.

Hamstrings
Glutes
Lower Back
Beginner

Band Good Morning (Pull Through)

Loop the band around a post. Standing a little ways away, loop the opposite end around the neck. Your hands can help hold the band in position.

Hamstrings
Glutes
Lower Back
Beginner

Barbell Ab Rollout

For this exercise you will need to get into a pushup position, but instead of having your hands of the floor, you will be grabbing on to an Olympic barbell (loaded with 5-10 lbs on each side) instead. This will be your starting position.

Core
Lower Back
Shoulders
Intermediate

Barbell Deadlift

Stand in front of a loaded barbell.

Lower Back
Calves
Forearms
Intermediate

Barbell Full Squat

This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes. To begin, first set the bar on a rack just above shoulder level. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step under the bar and place the back of your shoulders (slightly below the neck) across it.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Intermediate

Barbell Side Bend

Stand up straight while holding a barbell placed on the back of your shoulders (slightly below the neck). Your feet should be shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.

Core
Lower Back
Beginner

Barbell Squat

This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes. To begin, first set the bar on a rack to just below shoulder level. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step under the bar and place the back of your shoulders (slightly below the neck) across it.

Quadriceps
Calves
Glutes
Beginner

Bent Press

Clean a kettlebell to your shoulder. Clean the kettlebell to your shoulders by extending through the legs and hips as you raise the kettlebell towards your shoulder. The wrist should rotate as you do so. This will be your starting position.

Core
Glutes
Hamstrings
Advanced

Box Squat with Bands

Begin in a power rack with a box at the appropriate height behind you. Set up the bands on the sleeves, secured to either band pegs, the rack, or dumbbells so that there is appropriate tension. If dumbbells are used, secure them so that they don't move. Also, ensure that the dumbbells you are using are heavy enough for the bands that you are using. Additional plates can be used to hold the dumbbells down. If more tension is needed, you can either widen the base on the floor or choke the bands. T

Quadriceps
Abductors
Adductors
Advanced

Car Deadlift

This event apparatus typically has neutral grip handles, however some have a straight bar that you can approach like a normal deadlift. The apparatus can be loaded with a vehicle or other heavy objects such as tractor tires or kegs.

Quadriceps
Forearms
Glutes
Intermediate

Cat Stretch

Position yourself on the floor on your hands and knees.

Lower Back
Middle Back
Traps
Beginner

Chair Lower Back Stretch

Sit upright on a chair.

Lats
Lower Back
Beginner

Circus Bell

The circus bell is an oversized dumbbell with a thick handle. Begin with the dumbbell between your feet, and grip the handle with both hands.

Shoulders
Forearms
Glutes
Advanced

Clean

With a barbell on the floor close to the shins, take an overhand (or hook) grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Hamstrings
Calves
Forearms
Intermediate

Clean and Jerk

With a barbell on the floor close to the shins, take an overhand or hook grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Shoulders
Core
Glutes
Advanced

Clean and Press

Assume a shoulder-width stance, with knees inside the arms. Now while keeping the back flat, bend at the knees and hips so that you can grab the bar with the arms fully extended and a pronated grip that is slightly wider than shoulder width. Point the elbows out to sides. The bar should be close to the shins. Position the shoulders over or slightly ahead of the bar. Establish a flat back posture. This will be your starting position.

Shoulders
Core
Calves
Intermediate

Clean Deadlift

Begin standing with a barbell close to your shins. Your feet should be directly under your hips with your feet turned out slightly. Grip the bar with a double overhand grip or hook grip, about shoulder width apart. Squat down to the bar. Your spine should be in full extension, with a back angle that places your shoulders in front of the bar and your back as vertical as possible.

Hamstrings
Forearms
Glutes
Beginner

Clean Pull

With a barbell on the floor close to the shins, take an overhand or hook grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Quadriceps
Forearms
Glutes
Intermediate

Conan's Wheel

With the weight loaded, take a zurcher hold on the end of the implement. Place the bar in the crook of the elbow and hold onto your wrist. Try to keep the weight off of the forearms.

Quadriceps
Core
Biceps
Intermediate

Crossover Reverse Lunge

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.

Lower Back
Core
Abductors
Intermediate

Dancer's Stretch

Sit up on the floor.

Lower Back
Abductors
Glutes
Beginner

Deadlift with Bands

To deadlift with short bands, simply loop them over the bar before you start, and step into them to set up. For long bands, they will need to be anchored to a secure base, such as heavy dumbbells or a rack.

Lower Back
Forearms
Glutes
Advanced

Deadlift with Chains

You can attach the chains to the sleeves of the bar, or just drape the middle over the bar so there is a greater weight increase as you lift.

Lower Back
Forearms
Glutes
Advanced

Deficit Deadlift

Begin by having a platform or weight plates that you can stand on, usually 1-3 inches in height. Approach the bar so that it is centered over your feet. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the bar at shoulder width, allowing your shoulder blades to protract. Typically, you would use an overhand grip or an over/under grip on heavier sets.

Lower Back
Forearms
Glutes
Intermediate

Double Kettlebell Alternating Hang Clean

Place two kettlebells between your feet. To get in the starting position, push your butt back and look straight ahead.

Hamstrings
Biceps
Calves
Intermediate

Dumbbell Clean

Begin standing with a dumbbell in each hand with your feet shoulder width apart.

Hamstrings
Calves
Forearms
Intermediate