It is important to consider the entire body when designing a fitness program. Muscle imbalances and tightness in the hamstrings, hip flexor, and abdominals often manifest themselves as lower back pain: look only on the lower back, and you're missing the cause of the problem.

Many people tend to carry stress in their upper back or have improper posture caused by spending a lot of time in front of a computer screen or at a desk. Strengthening the core is a great way to retrain those muscles, correct your posture, and get rid of the pain and vague tension often felt at the end of a long workday.