Bad back..any advice?

[Shotokan-kez]

I have to be honest the pain has eased and training hasn't caused to many problems, just the odd twinge. I will still go see the doctor though to get it checked. Thanks guys!

[wolfen]

it could be straight leg raises if you do those... they are bad for you (I point to studies by GSSI).

you know, the type of thingwhere you lie down and raise your legs off the ground keeping them straight. that is AWFUL on the insertion of the hamstrings (don't ask me which one). this is the same reason why it is better to lift with your knees than your back/waist (even if your knees are shot to hell like mine ).

[Shotokan-kez]

Wow i used to do those straight leg raises all the time. I haven't done them in a while and my back has been fine, i wonder if it was that causing the pain.

[alsey]

my advice would be not to do anything that hurts it. a couple of years ago i pulled a muscle in the small of my back (i forget what its called) doing kendo. i didn't think much of it at the time, but i kept training and doing things which would hurt it again and make my back seize up. eventually i saw a doctor, and he told me i'd damaged the muscle. because i kept doing stuff with it, i made the recovery process last an extra two months and i couldn't train at all for a few weeks.

stretch it and exercise it, but try to avoid that odd twinge; that only slows your recovery. but yeah, seeing a doctor would be the best thing.

[wolfen]

they would not trigger an episode of pain or an injury, but they increase chances by straining the bone at the attachment.