Since he lifted a sack of concrete without bending his knees 11 years ago, [Stephen Hochschuler] has had a pain in the back, too. Now he practices what he prescribes as co-founder of the Texas Back Institute, one of the world's largest back pain management centers.

Hochschuler thinks this will be the decade of spine awareness. Just as people have learned their cholesterol level, they will learn about back pain prevention. ``I see everything evolving. People started running, now there's the concept of cross-training. Right now, sports medicine focuses on knees, shoulders, hips and feet. What connects it all? It's your back.''

- Advanced lumbar rotation. Lie on back with knees bent, heels next to buttocks, shoulders flat and arms extended. Allow knees to drop to one side. Then extend top leg out and slowly move arms in the opposite direction. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat other side.