8 Best Back Extension Alternatives (Safe & Effective)

Any exercise that targets the same muscles as back extensions while providing a different form of resistance or activation makes a good back extension alternative.

They should be safe, effective, adaptable to different fitness levels, and easy to perform anywhere with or without equipment.

In addition to adding back extension alternatives to your workout routine, proper supplementation can also play a vital role in strengthening your lower back muscles. We highly recommend adding a high-quality protein powder to your diet.

Let’s dive into my picks.

By combining my knowledge of exercise science with practical experience, I was able to curate a list of the top eight safe and effective alternatives that are unique in their approach to strengthening the lower back muscles.

1. Barbell Good Mornings

Barbell good mornings are a compound exercise that can help to develop the lower back and hamstrings.

What’s interesting about this exercise is that it requires a high level of core stability and control to perform correctly.

To perform the exercise:

1. Begin by placing a loaded barbell across your shoulders, standing with your feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Keep your core engaged and maintain a neutral spine as you lean forward at the hips, lowering your torso until it is parallel to the ground.
3. Hold this position momentarily, then contract your lower back and hamstrings.
4. Repeat for your desired number of repetitions, using

Sumo deadlifts are a compound exercise that works the lower body with a unique wide stance that places more emphasis on the inner thighs and allows for a more upright torso position.

Here's how to perform sumo deadlifts:

1. Position your feet wider than your shoulders with your toes turned slightly outward.
2. Grip the barbell inside your legs, keep your core engaged, back straight, and chest up.
3. Lift the barbell by driving through your heels and extending your hips and knees.
4. Slowly lower the barbell as you hinge at your hips and bend forward.
5. Repeat for desired reps.

3. Machine Reverse Hyperextensions

Machine reverse hyperextensions are an isolation exercise that targets the lower back muscles, specifically the erector spinae muscles.

When using a reverse hyperextension machine to perform it, this exercise is a great way to build strength in your back and can also help to improve your posture.

Here's how to perform machine reverse hyperextensions:

1. Lie face down on the back extension machine, with your hips at the edge of the pad and your legs extended.
2. Hold the handles and lift your legs up and back while squeezing your glutes.
3. Pause briefly before lowering your legs down.
4. Repeat for desired reps with controlled movements, avoiding jerking motions.

Barbell Romanian deadlift is a prone extension exercise that works the posterior chain muscles, including the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back.

This exercise places less stress on the lower back than traditional deadlifts, making it a great alternative for those with lower back issues.

To perform the barbell Romanian deadlift:

1. Stand with a barbell in front of you, bend your knees slightly, and keep a flat back.
2. Hinge at your hips to lower the bar towards the ground, keeping it close to your body.
3. Pause when you feel a stretch in your hamstrings, then use your hamstrings and glutes to lift the bar back up to the standing position.
4. Repeat the exercise for your desired number of reps.

5. Bird Dogs

The bird dog is a convenient bodyweight exercise that can be performed anywhere and anytime.

It directly focuses on strengthening the erector spinae muscles, which helps fortify the lower back and is a potential treatment for lower back pain [1].

“The bird dogs engage all the important muscles needed to improve spine stability”

- Eric L’Italien, Physical Therapist

Here's how to perform it: 

1. Stand with hands and knees on the ground, then straighten your right arm and left leg.
2. Hold for a few seconds, engage your core, and then switch to the left arm and right leg.
3. Repeat for desired reps, focusing on form and avoiding any wobbling.

While you may initially think of squats as solely a leg exercise, a significant part of the exercise’s success is attributed to the strength of the erector spinae.

As such, the squat can serve as a suitable extension replacement, as it also engages and strengthens the lower back muscles.

Here’s how to perform the barbell squat:

1. Start with feet shoulder-width apart, barbell resting on traps.
2. Squat down by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
3. Lower until thighs parallel to the ground, careful not to extend knees over toes.
4. Pause, then use your leg muscles to stand up to starting position.
5. Repeat for desired reps.

7. Kettlebell Swings

Kettlebell swings work similar muscles as the back extension but with two unique benefits.

Firstly, the exercise’s explosive nature helps build power in movements for sports and big lifts. Secondly, kettlebell swings burn belly fats and provide a total body endurance workout that engages stabilizer muscles from the ground up.

To perform kettlebell swings:

1. Begin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and the kettlebell on the ground before you.
2. Hinge at your hips and bend your knees to grab the kettlebell with both hands, keeping your back in a straight line.
3. Swing the kettlebell back between your legs, then use your glutes and hamstrings to swing it forward and up to shoulder height.
4. Allow the kettlebell to swing back between your legs, and repeat for your desired reps.

When you perform the superman exercise, you lift your arms, legs, and chest off the ground, resembling the flying position of Superman.

The bodyweight back exercise requires you to engage your lower back, glutes, and hamstrings muscles to maintain the lifted position, much like how Superman uses his strength to overcome physical challenges.

Here's how to perform the superman exercise:

1. Lie face down on a mat or stability ball with your arms extended straight before you.
2. Lift your arms, legs, and chest off the ground, bringing your hips forward and squeezing your glutes to maintain the lift.
3. Hold the lifted position for a few seconds, then slowly lower your limbs and torso to the starting position.
4. Repeat for desired reps, hold a light weight in your outstretched hands, or increase the duration of the hold to make it more challenging.

“The Superman exercise is designed to strengthen and improve stabilization of your lumbar and hip extensors,”

- Dr. Hass, Sports Physical Therapist