Supine describes the position of your body when you are lying on your back with your face up. Your ventral (stomach) side is facing up, while your dorsal (back) side is facing down. In the strictest definition, you are flat on your back with no incline, arms at your sides or bent at a 90-degree angle. The term is also used as a modifier for exercises and stretches that begin with you on your back, such as supine spinal twist.
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The opposite of supine is prone, which is the stomach-lying position. You may also see the term side-lying to describe positioning for therapy or exercises.
Clinical Uses of Supine Position
If your therapist or personal trainer is giving youcore stabilization exercisesfor the first time, most likely they will start you in the supine position. This is because when you are supine, your muscles have the least amount of work to do to maintain your posture and position against the force of gravity. For rehabilitation, many bed exercises begin in a supine position.
Care for Your Back in the Supine Position
Here’s are a few things you can do to relieve low back pain from the supine position.
You can also work in supine to activate yourdeep core muscles, which are key for a healthy back. With core muscles, it’s important to skillfully access them before using them full out. So spending a bit of time learning how to ignite them may go a long way towards developing low back support. In hook-lying position with your fingertips on your lower belly, inhale deeply, then exhale naturally and give a final puff out of the remaining air. At that point, your fingertips should feel your transverse abdominal muscle engage. Release and repeat 10 times.
After you’ve warmed up with the muscle tension release described above, as well as the core activation exercise, you might want to move on to actual exercise. For example, you may be givenbeginner’s hip stretchesto help relieve your back pain. These might be done for maintenance or for prevention of back pain.prevention.
Yoga is another thing you can do for your back while in supine position. As with any exercise program, not all yoga poses take place with you lying on your back, but many of the beginner’s and restorative ones do.
How Yoga for Back Pain Can Help You Find Relief
For example, thesupine spinal twistinvolves lying on your back, bending your knees and then gently placing them to one side. The idea is to stay in that position for a few moments—and breathe—to allow your oblique abdominal muscles as well as your back muscles to release.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSupine is defined as lying on your back with your face upwards.Supine and prone are antonyms—supine means to lie on your back, and prone means to lie on your stomach.It depends. Some people who have lower back pain find sleeping on their back is the most comfortable position. Back sleeping also can help you wake up without bed wrinkles on your face—a common issue with side or stomach sleeping.However, back sleeping is not advised for people with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleeping in the supine position can worsen snoring and apnea symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Supine is defined as lying on your back with your face upwards.
Supine and prone are antonyms—supine means to lie on your back, and prone means to lie on your stomach.
It depends. Some people who have lower back pain find sleeping on their back is the most comfortable position. Back sleeping also can help you wake up without bed wrinkles on your face—a common issue with side or stomach sleeping.However, back sleeping is not advised for people with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleeping in the supine position can worsen snoring and apnea symptoms.
It depends. Some people who have lower back pain find sleeping on their back is the most comfortable position. Back sleeping also can help you wake up without bed wrinkles on your face—a common issue with side or stomach sleeping.
However, back sleeping is not advised for people with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleeping in the supine position can worsen snoring and apnea symptoms.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aurora BayCare Medical Center.Lumbar stabilization hooklying position.Merriam-Webster.Supine.Merriam-Webster.Prone.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aurora BayCare Medical Center.Lumbar stabilization hooklying position.Merriam-Webster.Supine.Merriam-Webster.Prone.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Aurora BayCare Medical Center.Lumbar stabilization hooklying position.Merriam-Webster.Supine.Merriam-Webster.Prone.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
Aurora BayCare Medical Center.Lumbar stabilization hooklying position.
Merriam-Webster.Supine.
Merriam-Webster.Prone.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Choosing the best sleep position.
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