Which of the following is included as a Step Barrel spinal extension exercise?

• A. Back Arch and Bridge
• B. Side Stretch
• C. Corkscrew
• D. Oblique Roll Down

Answer: (A)

Spinal extension on the Step Barrel means bending the spine backward over the barrel to lengthen the front of the body and engage the back muscles. Back Arch and Bridge is the exercise that does this: you position the torso across the barrel so the spine can extend over it, then lift into a bridge to deepen the extension and activate the posterior chain (back, glutes, and hamstrings). This directly trains the action of extending the spine, which is the hallmark of a spinal extension movement on the Step Barrel.

Side Stretch involves bending the spine laterally, Corkscrew adds rotation, and Oblique Roll Down combines flexion with oblique work. These do not emphasize spinal extension in the same way, which is why they aren’t the correct choice here.