I have a pretty chronic low back too Doug (used to be a few times a year, now it's more like once a month, if I'm lucky). I mostly kneel to get low now (knees are still good), the bending over is prone to make me hurt myself, even with no weight or lifting. What is working for me more than anything else is walking.... down the road or on my treadmill (and I should do easy crunches, thou I hate them) (strengthening the low back and abdominal muscles is the ticket). And I'm trying to wear a back belt to do
any continuous working around la casa, which reminds you to kneel. I fear someday a Dr will tell me I need a laminectomy, and I do
not want one.
A friend has bought the Teeter inversion table, and says it helps.
https://www.teetertv.com/?x=baa 
