Exercise for bad backs??

ZozoMonster
ZozoMonster Posts: 270 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Basically I have a torn disc in my lower back and every time I strain it it tears a little more, increasing the pain. My osteopath told me sit ups are the worst possible exercise I could do, as well as exercises involving lying on the floor and lifting my legs, jumping, lifting weights...

I swim a mile almost every weekday, and have tried jogging but it nearly killed me!! I was wondering if anyone else had the same problem or if anyone knows some good exercises I can do which will not agitate my lower back.

Replies

  • lousoulbody
    lousoulbody Posts: 663 Member
    Try Callanetics, by Callan Pinckney, amazing results, inches galore to loose with her 10 years younger in 10 hours, they are old, but still very effective, the movements are designed to protect your lower back, i just order my set of dvd through Amazon.

    Good luck with your back, i hope you find some relief.:smile:

    Cheers:drinker:
  • Cranktastic
    Cranktastic Posts: 1,517 Member
    weight training has helped my back tremendously.
    I cant do anything high impact.

    http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/The_Starting_Strength_Novice/Beginner_Programs

    in workout B i substitute Bent over barbell rows for the clean and press.
  • nmtGurl
    nmtGurl Posts: 159 Member
    I've herniated far too many discs, but i've found "Windsor Pilates: The Back Workout" great for easing some of my stiffness and pain. It's no impact and short too. Hope you feel better, I know how painful it can be :sad: .
  • pickledginger
    pickledginger Posts: 172
    Tai Chi can be good, if you have that much mobility and stability right now.

    Pilates is great for building the strong core muscles that help protect the spine -- but look out for the aerobicised health club version.

    Elliptical walkers can be great: no impact, and they help with neuro "retraining" -- walking smoothly without limping or other problems that tend to create more problems.

    I do pretty well with weight machines, but have to avoid any of the ones that involve spinal compression. My spine is too compressed already. :-/ (Free weights, other than some hand weights for biceps and triceps, are no longer in my repertoire.) And the leg machines are great!

    When you've healed a little more, some of the stability work with the giant inflated balls might be good.

    And, as you know, swimming is fantastic.
  • ZozoMonster
    ZozoMonster Posts: 270 Member
    Thanks for your help everyone :D I will be sure to try and check all of your suggestions out!
  • soulfulsally
    soulfulsally Posts: 326
    weight training has helped my back tremendously.
    I cant do anything high impact.

    http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/The_Starting_Strength_Novice/Beginner_Programs

    in workout B i substitute Bent over barbell rows for the clean and press.

    Why substitute bent over rows for clean & press? Clean & press looks like it'd be harder on the back.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Have you tried yoga?
  • skinnyforhi
    skinnyforhi Posts: 340 Member
    I have a bad back too. Ask your doctor if you can ride a bike or take a spinning class, do vinyasa yoga, or do pure barre workouts that don't involve situps or any of the other no-nos that you listed.

    And DO NOT jog or run again. I had to give it up but it was necessary for my back.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    bump.
  • Nerdy_Rose
    Nerdy_Rose Posts: 1,277 Member
    I don't have a torn disc, but I do have back problems and have had chronic pain for 10 years (yippee).

    Weight lifting has helped my back more than anything -- I was afraid to try it, but it turns out that as my back got stronger I struggle less with my medical issues.
  • Cranktastic
    Cranktastic Posts: 1,517 Member
    weight training has helped my back tremendously.
    I cant do anything high impact.

    http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/The_Starting_Strength_Novice/Beginner_Programs

    in workout B i substitute Bent over barbell rows for the clean and press.

    Why substitute bent over rows for clean & press? Clean & press looks like it'd be harder on the back.

    which is why i am not doing it yet. I dont understand...the bent over rows are safer IMO
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    Tai Chi would be excellent!
  • phyllio77
    phyllio77 Posts: 192 Member
    Basically I have a torn disc in my lower back and every time I strain it it tears a little more, increasing the pain. My osteopath told me sit ups are the worst possible exercise I could do, as well as exercises involving lying on the floor and lifting my legs, jumping, lifting weights...

    I swim a mile almost every weekday, and have tried jogging but it nearly killed me!! I was wondering if anyone else had the same problem or if anyone knows some good exercises I can do which will not agitate my lower back.

    You are not alone. Your swimming is excellent for your back. Very therapeutic.

    I have found doing Yoga has helped strengthened my back and core significantly. I also do 1000's and 1000's of steps/stairs and walking has been great for my back. I am not at the running level or jumping rope yet but I am getting there.

    Just remember to go slow and listen to your back. Fingers crossed for a healthy recovery to be able to reach even higher to obtain your goal!
  • beekuzz
    beekuzz Posts: 428 Member
    Basically I have a torn disc in my lower back and every time I strain it it tears a little more, increasing the pain. My osteopath told me sit ups are the worst possible exercise I could do, as well as exercises involving lying on the floor and lifting my legs, jumping, lifting weights...

    I swim a mile almost every weekday, and have tried jogging but it nearly killed me!! I was wondering if anyone else had the same problem or if anyone knows some good exercises I can do which will not agitate my lower back.

    Okay, so I don't have any damage that I know of, but I had severe back pain when I started. I had a recumbent stationary bike - and I love it. I've been able to use it to get this much weight off so far. And walking, too. Just walking is really good. I only used to be able to walk about 5-10 mins and have increased it. But my favorite is the recumbent bike - it gives me back support and I can even use it when my legs are really sore. If you have access to a gym trial just for a day, you could try the different equipment. Or go to sears and try out their recumbent bikes. - not the kind without the backs.

    Best of luck to you.
  • WinwillLose
    WinwillLose Posts: 101
    I love the CMT machine at my Gym, it's like the elliptical, stairclimber and treadmill in one but low impact like the elliptical. So the motion can be more of a running motion or a stair climbing motion you control it. The calorie counter shows a higher calorie burn and that makes sense as it's a tougher cardio challenge.

    CMT= Continuous Motion Trainer
  • soulfulsally
    soulfulsally Posts: 326
    weight training has helped my back tremendously.
    I cant do anything high impact.

    http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/The_Starting_Strength_Novice/Beginner_Programs

    in workout B i substitute Bent over barbell rows for the clean and press.

    Why substitute bent over rows for clean & press? Clean & press looks like it'd be harder on the back.

    which is why i am not doing it yet. I dont understand...the bent over rows are safer IMO

    Ha, that makes more sense. I read it the other way. Thanks for clearing that up. Didn't want to be doing rows if there's something bad for the back about them.
  • Tina2Cats
    Tina2Cats Posts: 493 Member
    I do yoga for my lower back. I like Peggy Cappy. She does modified yoga for those who have back problems, are seniors/middle aged, disabled. She demonstrates how to do yoga using a chair for balance for the standing poses for those who have balancing problems. Her website: http://www.peggycappy.net/index.html You can also get her dvd's on amazon.com

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