I see a lot of posts about back exercises, I would just like to add that ab exercises are JUST as important in preventing back pain. Your trunk muscles play a huge role in supporting your spine. A strong core pulls your spine and pelvis into a more optimal angle for weight bearing. A weak core will produce a bad angle in your lumbar region (which can compress the nerves exiting the spinal tract in a number of ways).<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.somastruct.com&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2012&#x2F;07&#x2F;anterior-pelvic-tilt.jpg" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.somastruct.com&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2012&#x2F;07&#x2F;anterio...</a><p>Experience: athlete + med student<p>Personal anecdote: Used to skip ab exercises during lifting. Had lower back pain during football. Decided to stop skipping ab exercises. Lower back pain disappeared.