Back injury from row machine?

kaleas
kaleas Posts: 200
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay. Long story short, I signed up for LA Fitness and greatly regret it. They have made me feel belittled, unintelligent, and as if I have no clue what I'm doing.

I had my initial fitness test today as a new member. 135 pounds, 5'5, at 23% body fat. A little high. I said my goal was 18% and 125 pounds. I've exercised regularly but am new to strength training. I've never had back problems.

Samuel L. Beef Cakes takes me to the row machine to warm up. I informed him I biked 5 miles here but havent stretched yet. "That's okay. Do 500m in 2 minutes, 3 sets of it." Almost to the end of set 1, I pull back and feel my lower back snap. I stop instantly. He asks what's wrong and I explain.

He proceeds to tell me I have no core strength and to keep going. Push myself. I need to build up my core muscles. So I keep going. The pain is excruciating. I get to set 3, pull back, and another final snap. At this point I'm sobbing. He tells me to try and get at least to 1300m.

I could't even get up. He had to help me stand. I tell him I'll need to reschedule. He laughs and says he's never seen anybody get hurt on a row machine, and I'm just not in as good of shape as I think I am. With that I left.

I can't bend forward. Sitting is painful. I don't know if I just pulled a muscle or blew a disc. I'm 23 years old. I've never had a serious back injury.

What are your thoughts?

Replies

  • s1lence
    s1lence Posts: 493
    See a doctor, and find a different trainer. It kind of sounds like you put your back in traction. If they guy doesn't listen to you when you tell him you haven't stretched and encourages you to continue exercising when you are in sever pain then he doesn't have any right training. There is a difference between pushing yourself and injuring yourself. I hope you feel better soon.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Muscle pull. Takes much much more to damage a disc. But it's going to hurt a ton. We've all been there. Rule of thumb is stop immediately after the first pop. Difference can be between a week or so of rest or of a month or more of light duty workouts. Start the ibuprofen right away.
  • crobl
    crobl Posts: 380
    Definately see an ortho - if it was me, I would also file a formal complaint with LA Fitness against this guy. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for him to have pushed your through that type of pain.
  • kaleas
    kaleas Posts: 200
    I plan to write a letter and cancel my membership, hopefully get my 160 dollars back. I haven't been happy with the quality of their employees or with the way they treat their customers. The fact that he pushed me to keep going is enough to turn me off of the place.
  • coliema
    coliema Posts: 7,646 Member
    I would take it easy, maybe see a doctor if it's that bad. I'm 23 years old as well and I have the worst pain in my lower back from working out, I've never had problems before, but I find that if I take it easy and don't work out as aggressive as I normally do on the days where it hurts the worst, I feel much better.

    If they made you feel like that, cancel. You can find much much better places to workout.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories