Back problems

[hansenator]

I've been working hard in my new Choy Li Fut class and one day my back started really bothering me. I even had to bail out of class early because of it. I've been taking a break for the last couple of weeks and it's starting to feel better but I'm concerned.

Maybe I was just doing too much, like maybe fatigue accumulated until something gave. I have a history of back problems and I had been tired and sore since I started the class but I also feel like the low stances don't treat me very well and I'm worried that this will be a recurring problem if I don't change something.

Anyway, I'm trying to decide what to do once I feel better. I could simply do less, maybe just go to class once per week for an hour or two with some home practice during the week? I also wonder if a style that uses higher positions might treat me better? I could probably better tolerate something like boxing or muay thai.

I would welcome people's thoughts or experiences.

[sensei8]

I would encourage you to visit your doctor, if you've not done so already. Her/His advice is far greater than anything that I can give. In that, I would say...

Take time to heal; don't rush back onto the floor. One of the problems that I witness myself is when a student rushes back onto the floor before they're ready. I understand the floor better than most; it calls for you to return to your rightful place: Training!!

The back is not something to take lightly. It, your back, allows you mobility, and in any MA, mobility is key. If your back isn't up to par, you can furthermore your immobility; you either can walk or you can't!! The simplest move becomes the hard one to do because your back is hurting.

Getting out of bed. Dressing. Standing. Lying down. Showering. These, and so many other things become impossible if your back is hurting, one way or another.

Please, see your doctor, and allow time to heal. The floor will still be there when the time is right, and not before that.

You're in my thoughts!! To a degree, I understand what you're going through. This might explain some...

http://www.karateforums.com/stepping-down-vt47775.html?highlight=stepped

[Bulltahr]

Just an observation of myself. I am 50 in 1 months time, had a prolapsed disc remove back when I was 24 years old [blew it doing some pretty hard core non-MA training]

Now I don't know if your problem is muscular or spinal, but until I started back at MA, I was very stiff in the back, pain and lacked mobility. Now I can "touch my toes" again, have heaps more flexibility, in short, I'm very happy with the state of my back and have no doubt it is all thanks to MA. Core strengthening and flexing is what has done it for me.

Go see a Doc, find out whats going on, because MA should be helping, not creating problems.

I chose Karate, partly because it is more stand up, with less throwing etc.

Good luck!

[hansenator]

Thanks for the replies and the concern.

I have a pretty good idea what's going on in my back. I've been to numerous doctors and professionals over the years and finally found someone who had an idea what was going on and was able to help.

My glutes aren't stabilizing my back the way they should and the stress goes to the si joint. It's much better than it was but becomes a problem when I'm fatigued. There's certain exercises that help keep my back happy but kung fu left me so tired I wasn't keeping up with it.

I spent a few years not being able to walk without pain and, as little as a year ago, walking across the parking lot at work felt like an adventure. Add a couple years of depression and I went so far downhill I'm not sure I'll ever be able to fully recover. Seriously, it took a couple of years to regain a level of fitness where I could do normal things again without worrying that I'd over-do or hurt myself. An 8 minute jog would leave me wiped out for the rest of the evening.

Anyway, much better than I was and wanted to get back into some MA training. I find that the extended bow stances in kung fu pull my pelvis into anterior pelvic tilt though. Probably due to a lack of hip mobility and maybe the abs/glues aren't stabilizing well enough. That's what makes me concerned about the low stances and positions.

I'm thinking of checking out a muay thai class that's in my area. Between the higher positions and the shorter class times, I wonder if it would be more compatible with my issues? There are some other options around here too. I do like the kung fu but I'm not married to it or anything. Just looking for a good class that works for me. More interested in self defense than competition but the compatibility and the quality of instruction is the most important.

[Doomed]

Hey, Hansenator, if you find that your back keeps giving you problems, may I recommend taking up a form of yoga? I've found that sort of thing can really take out the kinks in your back after a good stretch.

[Nidan Melbourne]

See a doctor is the best choice, even if it is just a muscular issue then that is better news than you blowing something out if you didn't go

[JR 137]

Proper rest is just as important as proper training. The older we get (and one's getting younger), the longer it takes us to recover.

If you know what's actually wrong, then again even if you're not 100% sure, you should see a physical therapist. Physicians are great at diagnosing the problem and fixing it surgically (if they're a surgeon), but I've found they're not good at prescribing precisely what's needed, rehab exercise-wise.

A good physical therapist will also be able to assist you with a long-term solution, training-wise. He/she may not know one MA from another, but if you tell them the demands, a good one can break things down easily and help you make a logical decision. Add that to supplements therapeutic exercise, and you should be a lot better off.

I'm a bit biased, having a background in athletic training (sports med, not strength & conditioning). I've worked along side some very good PTs. I've also worked along some not so good ones.

[Spodo Komodo]

It might be worth seeing an osteopath or a sports physio. I had lower back pain and went to a sports injury clinic. I had everything checked out and they found that muscular imbalances were throwing my pelvis out of line. Since I started the training programme they gave me, plus a few osteopathy sessions, my back pain is almost gone. Without an expert eye I was concentrating on my back when I needed to work on my core and legs, you can't really work that kind of thing out for yourself.

[Montana]

I'm 6'6" tall and weigh around 250 lbs (not sure how many stones/rocks that is) and 62 years old currently. I have had recurring back issues for many years before I started training back in 1975 and just dealt with it as best I could until it got to the point that a hard right kick would throw my back out for WEEKS! That, and arthritis in both of my knees is when I decided to retire from the arts after 30 years.