6 Best Superman Exercise Alternatives to Strengthen Your Back

The Superman exercise is an excellent bodyweight routine designed to safeguard your lower back, enhance posture, and establish a stronger mind-muscle link with your back and glutes. When looking out for exercises that effectively target overlooked muscle groups, especially in the lower back, the Superman exercise alternatives prove their might.

While the Superman exercise targets several muscles, its effectiveness might not meet everyone’s preferences. If so, explore alternatives that provide similar or enhanced benefits.

The Superman exercise primarily engages muscles in the lower back, erector spinae, and, to some extent, the glutes, shoulders, and hamstrings. This engagement contributes to muscle building and can assist in preventing back pain.

Let’s step onboard and dive into the 6 best Superman exercise alternatives to strengthen your back.

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1. Stability Ball Reverse Hypers

Stability Ball Reverse Hypers workout is a great choice for those with mobility or shoulder issues. It targets the glutes, lower back, and hamstrings. The stability ball enhances the movement, ensuring proper form by highlighting any lower back hyperextension, preventing potential issues.

How to Perform Stability Ball Reverse Hypers?

• Position a stability ball atop a weight bench. Ensure the ball is small enough for you to grip the bench when lying on it.
• Achieve balance, lift your feet off the ground, and, with straight legs, elevate your heels until your body aligns parallel to the bench.
• Lower your body back down, completing one repetition.
• Continue this sequence for the prescribed number of reps, avoiding your toes touching the floor between reps.

Feel the burn predominantly in the glutes, lower back, and hamstrings at the pinnacle of each repetition.

2. Reverse Chinese Planks

The Reverse Chinese Planks are ideal for advanced isometric training.

How to Perform Reverse Chinese Planks?

• Position two boxes or weight benches, one beneath your shoulders and the other beneath your heels, while lying supine. Your mid-back down to your heels will lack support.
• Aim for a parallel plank position to the floor by activating your posterior chain, maintaining a static hold.
• To intensify resistance, introduce a weight plate or dumbbell near your hips (enlist assistance for loading). The added weight prompts increased glute engagement to sustain the plank position.

This workout elevates posterior engagement, particularly targeting the glutes and lower back.

3. Back Extensions

Back Extensions offer an alternative to the Superman exercise, targeting the same muscles from a varied angle.

Performed from either a 45- or 90-degree angle, back extensions provide versatility in loading. You can use resistance bands, barbells, plates, or dumbbells to add resistance.

How to Perform Back Extensions?

• Sit on the back extension machine with a straight back, making sure you’re securely in place.
• Bend forward slowly from your hips while keeping your back straight.
• Lift your upper body back up in a controlled manner until your body is straight.

This exercise effectively strengthens and develops the lower back and glutes.

4. Good Mornings (Barbell)

The good morning exercise, typically performed with a barbell, can also be adapted using other free weights, challenging resistance bands, or gym machines like the cable or Smith machine.

How to Perform Good Morning Exercise?

• Find a squat rack, set the barbell at chest height, and add weight plates. Adjust safety bars if needed.
• Stand under the barbell, shoulders up, letting it rest on your upper back. Hold it in place with your hands.
• Unrack the barbell, and take a few steps back for squatting space. Stand upright, feet shoulder-width apart.
• Lean your upper body forward comfortably, maintaining good posture. Bend your knees slightly.
• Return to the position in step 3 in a controlled way.
• After your desired reps, rerack the barbell.

This exercise works on your lower back, glutes, erector spinae, and hamstrings without excessive grip engagement.

5. Hip Extension With Curl Using a Stability Ball

Mastering this exercise requires precision due to the stability ball’s movement. Any misstep in the hip extension or curl can lead to instability.

How to Perform It?

• Start semi-supine, placing a heel on the stability ball. Engage the glute, roll the hip forward, and assume the plank position, keeping the other leg bent.
• With control, bend the straight leg, contracting the hamstring to draw the stability ball towards you. Keep the glute engaged throughout. Return to the plank position.
• Lower your hips until you touch the floor, then immediately return to the plank without resting.

This exercise targets hamstrings through hip extension and knee flexion, intensifying hamstring and glute engagement.

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6. Glute Bridges

To enhance comfort during this superman exercise alternative, use a yoga mat or a soft surface.

How to Perform Glute Bridges?

• Lie on your back, placing your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width. Ensure your lower legs are more or less vertical in the next step. Optionally, hold weights at hip level or keep your arms at your sides for balance.
• Lift your hips in a controlled motion until your body forms a straight line from knees to shoulders. Use your arms only for balance, not for pushing.
• Lower your body gradually.

Glute bridges effectively target the glutes, lower back,  hamstrings, and erector spinae. They serve as one of the most comfortable Superman exercise alternatives without the need for hyperextension. Weighted variations, incorporating resistance like dumbbells on the hips, can accelerate muscle growth and strength without overdoing it.

Wrapping Up

While the Superman exercise is excellent, these alternatives can offer variety and help strengthen your lower back, glutes, and hamstrings. Give them a try, make adjustments as needed, and watch your overall lower back strength improve.

If the Superman exercise alternatives don’t align with your preferences, or you have a sensitive back, seek professional advice.