Pain doing Core exercises

tenas

I'm supposed to be doing some Core strengthening exercises to help with some low back pain I have but every time I do I end up with an extremely painful knot in my stomach wall. I've tried stretching and hydrating before but it doesn't help. It's not just crunches that causes this, any exercise that engages the stomach muscles causes it. Any one else experience this and have a suggestion?

tameko2

do pushups and planks cause it too then? I mean when you say anything - what have you tried and does the reaction vary at all?

My husband finds that pushups and planks are most painful in his stomach due to having a weak core. not much he can do but push through.

Have you tried doing superman/banana? That's a good one because you can hold it as long (or as short) As you need to. So if you cna only superman for 3 seconds then great, do that, rest, then do it again.

savdbygrac

I'm having to do core muscle strengthening exercises to help my abs. The muscles never returned to the middle after my last baby. When I do them, my back hurts!!! If I do sit-ups I get back spasms so bad I have to drug up to keep my sanity! I truly believe that we are having this (although opposite) issue because the back and abs support each other. When one is weak, the other works double to compensate. I no longer do sit-up because it's not necessary. Do exercises that increase balance and it will strengthen your core without killing you in pain. Try standing, squatting down in to a chair sitting position, hold it for 10 seconds and then stand up. You'd be surprised what this can do for you! Another is bending your knees, moving from side to side as if skiing down hill. Do 3 reps of 10. Also stand with feet shoulders apart. Lean to the right, center, lean to the left, center, lean to the front, center, lean back, and back to center. Do 30 of these! Your core has to tighten to do these but it shouldn't be very painful if at all. Try to keep you body aligned and you should be ok. I'll "friend" you so you can let me know how these feel! I've been doing these this week and I've felt and immediate difference! My back doesn't hurt, it just feels worked out. My abs don't hurt they feel used. It just feels good and balanced! Plus I've dropped a pants size! Not a bad side effect!!!!! lol