If you suffer from back pain and can't find a sport that is stimulating and challenging enough, the 2024 Olympic Games currently taking place in Paris are the perfect time to get inspired and find a good sport for your back.

In this article we present the 5 best sports that are good for your back, inspired by the Olympic Games.

Swimming, an ally to gently strengthen your back

Swimming is one of the best sports for your back, this Olympic sport allows you to strengthen your back without negative impact.

Imagine swimming with the grace of Léon Marchand or Laure Manaudou to improve your flexibility, your posture, strengthen your back and become more athletic, without the risk of back pain!

When you swim, your spine is hyperextended, you no longer need to support it because you are floating on the water. Your spine is under much less pressure than when you practice any other sport. In addition, the only resistance you encounter when you practice swimming is the water, so the movements are easy to perform and do not have an impact on your joints.

This is why swimming is a sport that is good for your back, it is the perfect Olympic sport to strengthen your body and increase your endurance gently.

Loosen and strengthen your back with gentle gymnastics

Take a cue from gymnastics queen, 6-time Olympic champion Simone Biles, to incorporate gymnastics into your routine. We're not asking you to do double back flips and Olympic gymnastics like Simone Biles, but rather to incorporate gentle gymnastics exercises into your routine.

Gentle gymnastics is a good sport for the back, because it helps develop flexibility, improve posture, relieve tension and correct muscular imbalances.

Rowing for a stronger back

Rowing is an Olympic sport that works your entire body, primarily your back, shoulders, and abs. Rowing is a back-friendly sport and beneficial for people with low back pain (back pain) because it strengthens your back and core muscles without negatively impacting your joints.

Adopt brisk walking for a healthy back

Brisk walking is a good sport for your back, it is an effective sport to strengthen your back muscles and abs, but also improve your blood circulation and improve your posture. We recommend that you practice brisk walking 3 to 4 times a week to relieve your back pain.

Take inspiration from the technique and endurance of Yohann DIniz, world record holder for the 50km, who walks at an average speed of 14.53 km/h.

Cycling, a sport that is good for your back

Gentle cycling is a great way to relieve your back pain. Cycling is one of the best sports for your back, when your bike is perfectly adapted to your physiology and you ride at a comfortable pace. Cycling works the small muscles located all along your spine to support your vertebrae and connect your spine to the other parts of your skeleton.

For cycling we insist on the fact that your bike and your position must be adapted to feel the benefits of cycling on your back and not the opposite, causing back pain.

For more information on choosing the right bike, the right equipment and adopting a good position on your bike, we recommend that you consult our article: Back pain when cycling: Causes and solutions

By incorporating one of these back-friendly sports into your routine, you can improve your fitness while maintaining your back health. Choose the back-friendly Olympic sport that suits your preferences, whether you opt for swimming, gentle gymnastics, rowing, brisk walking or cycling, you will become more athletic and enduring without suffering from back pain.