Originally Posted by HelluvaStella
I've always found that doing situps regularly helps with the lower back pain. I try to get in about thirty every morning. If this helps you, you'll feel a difference in about a week to ten days. Good luck. If no relief from that, start tweaking your setup (bar angle, seat position, etc.) until you feel better. One variable at a time, you know?
Yeah, strengthening your abdominal muscles really helps the back. Maybe try crunches for starters, sometimes situps can be really stressful, especially if you have lower back pain.
A couple years ago I had a lumbar vertebre fractured in a car accident, so I had to do a LOT of lower-back related exercises in PT for a while. Crunches were a help, also this goofy thing where you are down on all fours, and lift your left leg and right arm all the way out simultaneously, then right leg and left arm, etc. Sounds basic, but do it long enough and you will feel how it could strengthen your back. And I will repeat my emphasis on the abdominal muscles.
Also realize that compensating for back pain can lead to compensation in a lot of other muscles, so make sure you are stretching everything out too.
Of course, I'm not a doctor (I just play one on TV) so please don't hold me to anything! Good luck with recovery.