Grab your mat and join Moms on the Run National Fitness Director, Olympian Carrie Tollefson, for a great big hug — knee hug, that is. This is a great stretch for the lower back. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, up to 80 percent of adults experience lower back pain during their lifetime. Good recovery after a run will help minimize the stress to your lower back.
To do this stretch:
Lie down on a mat with the back flat on the floor.
Slowly bend the knees and bring them in close to the chest.
Grasp the shins, pulling them in gently, and hold for 30 seconds.
Slowly lower the legs back down to the floor. Repeat.