Back stretches when done on a regular basis will maintain the flexibility of your spinal ligaments, muscles, and fascia. Maintaining back mobility by doing a few back stretching exercises on a regular basis is important in terms of preventing back pain. If you are looking to relieve back pain or dysfunction or even back pain that has come on "for no particular reason" that may or may not have resulted from a back injury, it is best to consult a physical therapist rather than try all the back stretches out there. Your particular problem may require specific stretches in a particular direction. Working or stretching in the wrong direction could make your problem worse. Your physical therapist can diagnose mechanical problems and prescribe the correct back exercises for you.