Millions of Americans are taking up such core-strengthening exercises as yoga, martial arts and Pilates.

Many are enthusiastic but inexperienced novices who fail to protect their spine while learning these practices.

In fact, in a recent national poll conducted by Harris Interactive, more than half of all Americans suffered from back pain within the past month, with nearly 16 percent blaming exercise.

In addition, one of four people were un-able to engage in vigorous physical exercise due to back pain.

“Our physician members are certainly seeing an influx of back pain cases and injuries stemming from the popularity of yoga, Pilates and martial arts,” according to Thomas Errico, president of the North American Spine Society, or NASS.

“Core-strength exercises are a fantastic way to improve posture and balance, increase flexibility and overall physical fitness and reduce stress. Core strengthening is often a component in back-rehabilitation programs and, when properly performed, may help prevent back injury. However, it is important for people practicing these types of exercises to understand how improper technique or even simple mistakes can result in back pain and possible spine injury,” Errico continued.

Finding a good instructor for your core-strength program is time well spent.

Andrea Ferretti, yoga instructor and health and wellness editor at the Yoga Journal, said reputable instructors always should ask new class participants if they have had injuries, surgery or special needs.

“Many yoga poses can be modified to accommodate individuals who suffer from back injuries. But there are certain poses that should be avoided too, depending on the severity and type of injury. In many cases, yoga can ease and even alleviate back-pain symptoms,” she said.

Many NASS members are experts in the field of exercise and rehabilitation.

Spine-Line medical editor and NASS board member Stuart M. Weinstein said, “Any patient, regardless of age, can participate in some form of exercise. The benefits of core strengthening include improvement in function, whether at home, work or on the playing field.

“For patients with chronic low back pain, functional gains are more important than just focusing on strength and flexibility. Successful core-strengthening programs emphasize practical performance of strength and flexibility exercises,” Wein-stein added.

To help those interested in improving core strength to protect their spines while becoming physically fit, the society developed simple tips and suggestions:

• Always get proper instruction on the correct poses from a certified instructor,

It’s perfectly fine to ask your instructor where he or she received training and how many hours of education were received to become a certified instructor.

In class, speak up and ask questions because it is better to learn proper technique than risk an injury, according to the Yoga Journal.

• Always keep proper head, shoulder and pelvis alignment.

• Exercises that focus solely on abdominal crunches ignore many of the other supporting muscles of the spine, pelvis and hips.

• Individuals beginning a new exercise program should check with their doctor first, especially if they had back or neck pain.

Ask about ways to protect your spine and tell him of any recent and all past injuries.

• Commit a modest amount of time and energy.

The most challenging and physically demanding core exercises should be re-served for advanced and experienced exercisers and athletes whose activities require maximum physical output.

• Back-pain sufferers should avoid exercises that place the spine in extreme forward bending or combined bending and twisting. These place excessive stress on the intervertebral disks.

• It may take some time to reap the full benefits of a yoga, Pilates, martial arts or other core-strength exercise program.

Learning to use one’s muscles to support — not stress — the back takes time, pa-tience and commitment.