60 years old and over

Join

JANUARY 2016 Monthly Challenge

2»

Replies

  • retirehappy
    retirehappy Posts: 4,757 Member
    Sharon, so glad you got your game back with PT.
  • grandmothercharlie
    grandmothercharlie Posts: 1,356 Member
    I recently had a lot of back pain and I was also blaming it on my sciatica, but I hadn't been doing my stretches and working out while I was sick over the holidays. When I returned to the gym and started stretching, I was fine when I stretched my lower back, but, I felt like going through the roof from pain in my lower back when I did the hamstring exercises. I then remembered my massage therapist a while back mentioning when I asked her to concentrate on the muscles in my lower back that she thought my discomfort was actually tight hamstrings. She worked on those equally and it felt great.

    I asked my dil who is a physical therapist and she said that tight hamstrings and hip flexors are one of the most common causes of lower back pain. They connect, so if the hamstrings are tight, they pull on the lower back muscles. I doubled up on my hamstring and hip flexors stretches after that. After a week or so, still some back discomfort, but not while I'm stretching and it has gotten a lot, lot better. Something to keep in mind when your lower back starts to ache. It might be a combination of both. Might also be why your yoga helps some, Kathy.

    Let's face it, all joint and spine problems improve when surrounding muscles are strong and stretched.
  • mxchana
    mxchana Posts: 666 Member
    edited January 2016
    @grandmothercharlie - Thanks for those observations! Yes, just today I was using the stretch machine at the gym and really felt my hamstrings and hip flexors were benefiting from it. I do think they are involved.

    The yoga pose that feels the best when the sciatica is bad is King Pigeon. It just feels great and gives me immediate relief. But all those other muscles are included in the round of exercises I do. It is much better, thanks! (The best improvement is that I can walk for 20 - 25 minutes again without pain.) But to keep it at bay I think I have to keep this routine going.
  • DreamOn145
    DreamOn145 Posts: 460 Member
    Wow, how did this month go so fast! I have been busy, but feeling well. I have fallen on and off with journaling and that is never good! On the other hand, I have been faithful with the exercise and eating healthy so I have maintained a bit more than my 3 lb goal and will journal this weekend so that I will hopefully maintain it! No weekend plans and dh is working so I do not even plan to leave the house this weekend! I have been running all week and want some days to just paint!
  • mxchana
    mxchana Posts: 666 Member
    edited January 2016
    I am pleased with the results of the January challenge - met most of my goals about 85% of the time... I am weakest on finding time to do meditation and hypnosis.

    I have released 6.4 pounds of the weight I had re-gained. This represents the time period just from the 10th of January on, when I got back on the wagon. So NOT BAD at all! I'll take it.

    Patting myself on the back - how many calories does that burn? :D

    Janet, that is exactly what I am doing this weekend - leaving the house as little as possible and getting stuff done. (Since I cannot paint, I am doing mostly bookkeeping.)

    See you all in the February challenge! ~ Kathy

  • sharondtd
    sharondtd Posts: 548 Member
    Looking forward to February. :-)
  • DreamOn145
    DreamOn145 Posts: 460 Member
    I closed out having made my weight loss goal so I am happy!

Categories