COSMO BUFF.(exercise tips)(Brief Article)

"What's with the pain in my lower back and leg?"

It's probably a "pinched" (injured) nerve, says Richard Bachrach, an orthopedist in New York City. Unlike muscle spasms or cramps, which cause localized soreness, a pinched nerve induces pain that radiates to other parts of your body. You might hurt from your back down through one leg, for instance, or from your neck through your shoulder and arm. Rather than any one injury, repeated minor stresses- misusing anything from weights to elliptical trainers-are most often to blame. If you can isolate the cause, stop doing the motion and see if the pain subsides. (Gentle stretching and icing should also help.) If it doesn't, see a physical therapist.

WORKOUTS THAT STARS SWEAR BY

Personal trainers spill how celebs stay fit.

Tyra Banks

Her goal: Toned hips, thighs, and glutes The routine: Harry Hanson starts her with 45 minutes on the StairMaster at level 10. He follows it with three minutes of slow, controlled squats, bringing her butt almost to the ground, and two minutes of walking lunges across the room.

Reese Witherspoon