My first setback

kayte660

I've been going to the gym fairly regularly since November. I'm super proud of myself, going from sedentary to running just over 2 miles in half an hour and weight training 4-5 days a week. But today I ventured into free weights. I had a friend who is comfortable with the weights and machines help and critique my form. I felt okay, but doing a crunch I felt an odd pain in my back. Came home and it's clear I have pulled a muscle. Tomorrow is my rest day and I've been alternating ice and heat and took a motrin, but I feel it tightening up. I know I pushed myself hard today, and tried to use good form, but I feel stupid and hope it heals fast and is just a tiny strain. I have back problems from my job and don't want it to be an ongoing problem.

DavPul

There doesn't seem to be a question?

Anyhoo, I wouldn't worry about it. Relax, rest, and see how you feel over the next day or so. It would be unusual to hurt your back badly while doing crunches. I wouldn't call this a setback, more like, some random thing that happened one time.

Cherimoose

Replace crunches with planks. Search Youtube for "how to plank". And search for "cat and camel" for a back stretch.

If your friend is not a certified personal trainer or physical therapist, i'd be very skeptical of their ability to assess your form on exercises.. regardless of how "comfortable" they are in the gym.