Have you tried swimming? I know a few people with chronic back problems and it seems to help, plus it doesn't feel strenuous. It can be great strength training and cardio too!

No, I'm terrified not to exercise. I can always find something I can do. I used a stationary bike for 6 months while I was healing from a broken tibia.

I can now walk OK so I do at least a quarter mile daily if there is no ice or snow on the hill.

I was a personal trainer for seniors before I retired. I would check osteoporosis websites for safe exercises since people with this condition must exercise but they must always support their back. Exercise sites for seniors may also give you some ideas. Sounds funny but if safe for those over 80, the rest of us should be able to manage.

No matter the age, a full body workout with aerobics, weight training, flexibility and balance is always encouraged. The exercises are simply adapted to suit age and ability. Squats become standups/sitdowns on a hard chair, moving to a standup and squat/hover etc. I too have back problems because of arthritis and there are website with exercise recommendations for that too. Once started without pain, you can decide where to go from there.

I've found lifting any weight to be a producer of pain, for me. The headache is terrible! I agree with you about reluctance! Once you experience pain from something, after trying multiple times, you tend to avoid the cause. I stick with walking and an occasional bike ride.

I had back surgery a couple of years ago and although I wasn't afraid to exercise, I found any kind of squatting to cause me pain. I tried different variations and I had to eventually give up on squats. Listen to your body. If something causes you pain, don't do it. Most other exercises, I can do with no problem. Just take it slow.

Yoga, walking, swimming, and bike riding. I have bad ankles, bad wrists, and a bad back from my earlier years of over activity then breaking bones. Ug! I have an adversion to running, even though I vowed to do C25K, I too have a mental phobia of re-injury.

There's a lot to be said about just doing basic yoga stretches, squats, and planks. I'm not a fan of downward dog and some of the weight on my wrists poses, but I modify accordingly, just to get a nice stretch feels like I'm doing something.

I also love just walking, but the cold weather does limit it a bit. Funny, I was in the mall yesterday before 9am waiting for a store to open. I needed to pick something up before work. I was amazed at the number of folks (lot's of them seniors) just walking inside the mall. At first, I couldn't figure out where everyone was going in such a hurry. It's like I stumbled into a whole new subculture. There were groups of men and women, smiling, talking, laughing while walking briskly. So different from the frowny faces I saw during the Xmas shopping rush. It was strange, but uplifting! LOL.

Back when I was fit enough to enjoy going to the gym, I did yoga and pilates for my back pain. Strengthening my core allowed me to do more weight bearing exercise. I did videos at home too and loved the Gaiam ones. They have an online video subscription plan now and the first month is just $.99, might be a good way to see if you like it. gaia.com

I have 3 & 5 lb hand weights in my TV room and bedroom. I pick them up a few times a week. Just seeing them is a reminder. I don't know if this would cause distress because of your back issues, but it helps me.

I suppose one perk of doing exercise with others is that while you are chatting away you don't notice the pain your in - until you get home.

I'm seriously thinking of looking in to this phenomena. As I was walking, in work heels, at what is a fairly good pace, these two couples walking side by side, chirped around me at a pretty good clip. When I noticed how old they were, how fast they were walking and still talking, I was really surprised. So, I started to walk faster to see exactly the pace. Granted, I had shoes with heels and they were in sneakers, but I was pretty bummed that they had a full stride and a half on my one stride. It was weird, like HS. The older cool kids, blowing past the dork, laughing and moving along..

I used to work a bit in rehab and with back problems, depending on what the issue was it is often related to core strength.
I like to swim so I go to the pool a couple of times a week. I do some aqua aerobics type classes but there are loads of people who walk laps in the water. Really low impact but high resistance!

That's what I have seen also. Anytime I work to build core muscles, I strain my neck, causing headaches, therefore the reluctance to try again! Any neck building exercise recommendations (that are gentle) would be appreciated. I've done PT for this, but I feel since there's a time crunch (wonderful insurance limiting number of visits) they add the core, and arms in my case, too soon! Which leads to an aversion to all.

Maybe try just the neck, and build until ready, then add arms, or core (one at a time), hopefully leading to tolerance of all! (This is really advice to myself, but can help others too). I'm open to ideas too!

I've always been info lifting and not overly fond of cardio but sadly I'm coming to terms with the fact that I can no longer lift due to RA. It causes too much joint pain and triggers a flare. Plus any activity where my arms are raised triggers muscle spasms in my neck. So for now I walk and hike. I just started doing the online Barre3 workouts which are kind of a blend of yoga, ballet, and Pilates. So far they seem to be kind to my joints so I'm going to focus on those with hiking when weather permits.

Yes, I was scared!! Contact your doc and ask for a PT referral. I worked with PT until I felt stronger & then set up some sessions with a trainer at a gym after that. (I had back surgery last year after 20 years of issues). My trainer helps to make sure I'm using proper form, so I don't hurt myself & shows me how to modify the things I should be modifying. After about 10 sessions, I now have the strength & knowledge to start group classes, which I recently did. I'm always going to have to modify some things, but at least now I know!