I just finished reading an article entitled "Medicine and Fitness: CARE OF THE BACK," in my professional journal American Fitness (March/April 2009).  This article discusses how doctors, physical therapists and fitness professionals can work together to help a client with back pain.  As a licensed massage therapist and AFAA and Hoopnotica certified instructor, I have come into contact with a lot of people with back pain.  I have found that hooping has benefited my lower back.  


Hooping students often asked me, "Should I tighten my abs when hooping?" And according to this article, you should do this ABDOMINAL BRACING all the time to help reduce back pain.  ABDOMINAL BRACING is a deep contraction of the abdominal and oblique muscles that occurs when you take a deep breath, let it out and press the abdominal muscles toward the spine.  Focusing on bracing, since reading the article has helped me improve my posture and made my back feel great!