An exercise device for stretching the lower back and leg muscles of a user includes a flexible footrest and a handle device. The handle device is designed to be grasped by the hands of a user and the cable is attached, at one end, to a footrest or fixed location. The other end of the cable is engaged by a rotatable member in the handle device; and a pawl and ratchet mechanism in the handle device rotates the rotatable member to draw the cable member into the device. A reciprocating lever member is operated by the user, grasping the handle member to effect incremental stepwise rotation of the rotatable member through the pawl and ratchet mechanism.