Getbig Bodybuilding Boards > Injury and Rehabilitation

Lower back pain and ab training?

(1/3) > >>

galain:
looking for advice guys.

I've always trained abs - the last 15 years or so mainly with hanging leg raises because I find they work really well for me. I usually added cable crunches as well. I've also always trained lower back. I've had lower back issues for some time so I'm pretty careful with it but I don't want to ignore it.

last year I started doing straight legged hanging leg raises - slowly up as high as I could go and then slowly down again. Kicked my ass, but I worked up to 3 x 20 reps on this exercise and after years of training, they made a very noticeable difference. It was a real (pleasant) surprise to see my body respond so well after so many years of training.

I noticed though that my lower back started getting worse around 6 months ago.

I saw 4 different physiotherapists who all advised me to stop all ab training. I didn't want to, but eventually it was an orthopedic surgeon who told me my abs were too strong for my lower back and I needed to decide if I wanted to be pain free or have a six pack.

Has anyone else experienced this and if so, how did you work around it? I haven't trained abs for about 6 weeks now, and I'm still in pain. I'd love to go back to the straight legged hanging raises but I don't think I should. I was also told the cable crunches aren't doing me any favours either.

none of the therapists looked like they exercised much.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

oldtimer1:
Not a doctor but here are my thoughts. Any exercise that is causing pain should be eliminated.  I know we all have favorites that have worked in the past. I loved the bench but I can't do it anymore. My shoulder screams. Surprisingly I can dumbbell bench. I've been using it in place of the bench. Same with the pulldown. I got a supinated M.A.G bar and zero pain. You can find a substitute for every exercise.

Have you tried an old fashion cheap ab wheel? When the actual ab muscles work it's almost an isometric protective muscle. It has a very short stroke. Most ab exercises are exercising the hip flexors that attach to the spine. Try the ab wheel. You can pick it up at any walmart or amazon for practically nothing. Start at your knees and roll out and back. Willing to bet your abs will be sore as hell the next day.  When you get really good you can roll out from the standing position.

Another exercise that I believe will protect your lower back is the crunch. It has been getting a lot of bad press lately but everyone I see does it incorrectly. They just yank their neck up and down. That's not the movement. It's picking your upper back off the floor contraction the abs. I put my legs up on a bench and light plate behind my head on a soft mat.  

I also do cable crunches maybe in a non traditional way. Sitting reverse in a pulldown machine I grab a V handle at the back of head. From that seated position I crunch down.  I use high reps of 20-30.  

What I'm trying to point out is that if hanging leg is yanking your back out then drop it. Use alternatives and you might find your abs get very sore after using alternatives. Abs are shown through diet.  Everyone has abs but they are not seen because of fat.

Regarding the lower back what I do might not work for you. It might make the problem worse.  I use semi locked stiff leg deadlift off a block. I do these very slow and controlled. I go low to stretch the hamstrings or bicep femoris for the guys that took a week internet training course. I use this in conjunction with the back extension. The new 45 degree hyper extension benches stink. The resistance drops off near the top of the movement. I use the traditional horizontal type pictured. I don't go as high as the guy pictured. My lower back is just about bullet proof.

galain:
Thanks oldtimer! for taking the time to write all that. I've never tried an ab wheel but I may well pick one up. Since I was a kid I've always associated them with those late night tv commercials and fat housewives - but I know they have a very dedicated bunch of users as well.

I'm also a fan of the stiff legged deadlift for lower back - been doing them with the extensions for years. Yeah - it's hard to let an exercise go that has given you fantastic results but it is what it is, especially as I'm rapidly running into 50. Got to be smarter these days. I appreciate your response - thank you again.

oldtimer1:
That ab wheel will kick your ass. I doubt many chubby housewives are capable of using it. Another point is you should use your hanging ab straps not for leg raises but to hang for 20 seconds to decompress the spine.

galain:

--- Quote from: oldtimer1 on November 16, 2018, 12:46:31 PM --- Another point is you should use your hanging ab straps not for leg raises but to hand for 20 seconds to decompress the spine.

--- End quote ---

Every time I'm in the gym mate. I hang for 3-5 minutes before I get started and again once I'm done.

Didn't pick up an ab wheel yet but I've been experimenting just rolling a normal olympic bar out and back with two plates on either side. New DOMS all over the place!

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page