Building Beautiful Backs Team athletic trainer Tom Abdenour, with the help of Warrior Girl Tara, demonstrates a series of exercises to stretch and strengthen the lower back. Essay: When backs attack PHOTO: Tara stretches her lower back by pulling her knees to her chest. (Photo by: Warriors.com)

YOUR PERSONAL TRAINER Warriors athletic trainer Tom Abdenour handles the health and rehabilitation issues for an elite NBA team, but is also sharing his expertise with fans by answering e-mails throughout the season. Send him your question now! Answers from Abdenour: May 1 | March 27 | Feb. 20 | Jan. 23 | Dec. 26 | Dec. 5

NBA PLAYER WORKOUTS Ripped Clips The Clippers get a lot of their offense from above the rim as one of the youngest and most athletic teams in the league. Check out forward Lamar Odom's weight room regimen that helps keep his legs strong while he recovers from a sprained ankle. More workouts: Mateen Cleaves, Kings | Matt Harpring, Sixers | Michael Finley, Mavericks

WEIGH IN

STRENGTHENING EXERCISES Building Strong Shoulders With the help of Warriors guard Larry Hughes, Abdenour provides a two-part series of exercises, first to strengthen the rotator cuff and then to increase coordination with some dynamic stabilization moves. More strengthening exercises: Groin (with Gilbert Arenas) Knee (with Erick Dampier) Ankle (with Troy Murphy)

Put Me In Coach!
Warriors director of athletic development Mark Grabow steps in this week, with the help of rookie guard Dean Oliver, to provide some pre-game drills for the reserve players who don't see many game minutes. This way they're court-ready whenever the coach calls their name.

From Crutch to Clutch
March is National Athletic Training Month and an athletic trainer is often the team's MVP, getting players rehabilitated and back in the game. Find out about the benefits and challenges of the job, as well as what it takes to get there.
Learn more about athletic training in Tom Abdenour's Virtual Classroom

Shouldering the Load
Although shoulder injuries aren't overly common in the NBA, but it's still a sensitive area that needs to receive careful attention or else an injury could knock you out of the game. Bulls athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi describes the anatomy of the shoulder and the different ways it can be injured.

The ABCs of Al Harrington's ACL
A torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee has knocked out the Pacers' young forward for the rest of the season, but thanks to sophisticated surgical techniques and a strong rehabilitation program, Al Harrington should return to enjoy a lengthy NBA career. Abdenour explains the ACL and what is happening with Harrington.
Give 'Em a Hand in Preventing Injury
Plantar Fasciitis: The "Achilles Heel" of NBA players

Cross-Sport Conditioning
Sixers forward Matt Harpring comes from a long line of football players and spent quite a bit of time on the gridiron himself when he was in high school. He uses the exercises he learned then to make him one of the strongest players in the NBA now.

Tape Measure
Watch a special video feature as Reel Time Rockets host Jeff Hagedorn goes inside the weight room to get some lifting pointers from Cuttino Mobley and Kevin Willis.