back arching
Bending spine backward
Back arching is the bending of the spine backward, creating a curve with the chest thrust forward and shoulders pulled back.
The phrase describes both deliberate movement—as in yoga, gymnastics, or stretching—and involuntary physical responses during intense sensation: Her back arching in pleasure, The patient's back arching during the seizure.
In fitness contexts, back arching during exercises like deadlifts may indicate improper form.
- spineColumn of vertebrae
- spinal columnSegmented skeletal axis
- curveSmooth, angleless line
- stretchPull to extend
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
yoga · yoga pose · cat-cow · backbend · posture · lumbar · contortion · gymnastics · floor exercise · bridge · cobra · limberness · supple · extension · vertebrae · hollow · sway · thrust
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
- dominance displaysdisplay, alpha behavior, power stance, chest puffing, baring teeth
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
back archinghunching
Rounding the back forward
forward fold · tucking · crunching · cat pose · fetal position
back archingslumping
Declining sharply, drooping
collapsing · caving in · slouching · rounded shoulders · drooping
back, backs, backed, backing, backer, backside, backbone, backward, backwards