Towel exercise: Learn from the Japanese to cure back pain

Back pain is a common ailment that causes more worldwide disability than any other. Pain can occur in other parts of the back, such as the middle and upper back. That’s why the "towel exercise", which promises to relieve back pain and improve posture using only a bath towel, has taken the internet by storm.

What is “Towel exercise”?

Dr. Toshiki Fukutsudzi, a Japanese reflexology and massage specialist, invented the Japanese towel technique over a decade ago. He claims that the practice can help people strengthen their core muscles, improve their posture and alleviate back pain. Constantly performing this exercise, according to the expert, can help with pelvic muscle misalignment.

How to practice this Japanese towel technique?

The basic Japanese workout requires resting on your back for five minutes each day with a rolled up towel put directly under your waist where your spine curves.

This is how you perform the exercise:

Step 1: Lie down on your back with your arms and legs stretched out in front of you.

Step 2: Wrap a medium-sized towel around your lower back, just below your navel.

Step 3: Place your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes touching.

Step 4: Raise your arms above your head with your palms facing down and your pinky fingers touching

Step 5: Stay in this position for at least 5 minutes. Gently sit up and relax your body after your time is up.

The positive feedbacks

Dr. Fukutsudzi discovered that by putting a towel behind your back, you can improve your posture by aligning your spine and pelvis. The physician explained his method In his Japanese book which became one of Asia's best-selling novels.

The practice has been circulating on social media in recent months, with many people claiming that it has helped them alleviate back discomfort, while others stating that after practicing the five-minute exercise every day, their bodies had changed.

One woman wrote, 'I actually do this on the weekends and it extends my back and helps relieve discomfort.'

'I've been doing this procedure successfully for over 40 years whenever I get discomfort in my lower back,' one woman wrote, while another added, 'I just did this and my whole body felt amazing afterwards.' I got some endorphins as well.'

Another woman stated that she has been using this technique for a "long time now" because it helps her relieve back discomfort.

'I have scoliosis, and my lower back is constantly in pain. I've done everything I can think of to alleviate my back pain, and it's working. This strategy always puts me at peace and makes it easier for me to go asleep,' she explained.

The controversy

Despite the fact that towel exercise is excellent in treating back discomfort, some people say that it can also help you obtain flat abs. TikTok user @tiabagha recently created a viral video instructing people on how to do towel exercises, claiming that they will get you toned abs in 10 days. The video has received over 2.8 million likes and hundreds of comments since it was first released.

Cassey Ho, fitness celebrity and developer of Blogilates, reacted angrily to this statement. "I AM SO SICK OF FAKE FITNESS INFORMATION GOING VIRAL," Ho wrote in an Instagram post, demonstrating the move in a picture to indicate that the towel trick is "the latest trend that needs squashing."

As a certified fitness instructor, Ho wants people to understand that unless you're born with flawless abs, you'll have to work for them.

“If all you had to do was lay down to get abs, we would all have six-packs by taking naps,” Ho said. “I am literally telling you right now that there is no shortcut. You need to exercise and eat healthy to burn that layer of fat that’s covering your abs.”

Conclusion

Overall, as much as we'd like to lie on the floor for a few minutes every day instead of sweating it out at the gym, if you want toned abs, you'll have to put in a little more effort.

With that being said, towels can definitely belong in your core workouts—just not in the way that the TikTok videos suggest. Body Saws, knee tucks, and pike-ups can all be done using a towel. When you're struggling with flexibility, a towel might assist you go deeper into stretches. And most importantly, a towel is a cheap and effective tool to help with your back pain.