SELF-OPERATING BACK STRETCHING DEVICE

A manually operated back stretching device for relieving compressive forces of the lower lumbar vertebrae and safely stretching lower back muscles includes a platform that supports a user's lower legs. As the user moves a portion of the device with their arms toward their legs, the forward edge of the platform rises up and tilts away from the user's torso, causing the user's hips to lift off the floor and simultaneously stretching the user's back. As the user moves their arms back over their head, the user's back and legs relax while the arms are pulled above the user's head. The result may be a back-and-forth dynamic rotational arching motion that repetitively raises the relaxed hips and tilts them forward to decompress the spine using appropriate longitudinal and torsion forces at the most pain causing compression points of the lower lumbar vertebrae.