Maybe it’s a bit of slouchy posture, or carrying around a kiddo. Perhaps it’s that overcrowded heavy handbag or hovering over your smartphone. Whatever the cause, your back pain is no joke. And you’re not alone in your aches: About 56 percent of American women suffer from chronic low back pain, according to research from Minnesota scientists. Luckily, there are some simple exercises that can ease — and even banish — back pain. The key is to do these exercises early and often.

“It’s important to be proactive about your back pain,” Oren Ambalu, MD, a pain management specialist at CareMount Medical in Hudson Valley, New York tells Woman’s Day. “Addressing pain early on can help prevent it from getting worse over time.”

Read on to learn about the little ways you can ease back pain right now.