(This post is not to be taken as a backache cure. Please get professional help before following this plan from either a professional fitness trainer or doctor)
Yes, I have been there before like everyone else. The dreaded back pain. In this post I am going to share what my experience was and what I did to work around it. At the time this happened I knew far less than I know now about rehab. I will be covering that in future posts so stay following this blog. For now here is my story so bear with me......)
I had been lifting heavy and training hard. I was happy with the fact that my strength and lift numbers were going up. I was really working on the back squat for quite a while. Then I started to notice a tightness in my lower back radiating down to my lower legs. At first I just addressed it as a muscle soreness. After a few days the pain was starting to get really bad. I could not stand up or walk without wincing. To make matters worse I could feel this horrible pinching pain which shot through my body. I had to stop squats. My training sessions were getting bogged down as even in the gym my back would be stiff and hurt. Massages and stretches on the lower back gave temporary relief.
The thoughts started flooding in...
'Is this a slip disk?'
'Did I tear a muscle on my lower back?'
'Is this lifelong?'
At 24 years old this is not exactly good news. So I waited it out. I just stopped heavy lifting. That was like really hard for me because I enjoyed lifting heavy.
One day, I believe God gave me the answer. I had this thought sticking in my head and could not shake it out....'Muscle Imbalance.' Mind you at this point, I had no certifications, rehab training, postural corrections, the best medical doctors to refer in the sports world. I didn't even know that google would give me tonnes of info on this topic. I just had this one strong impression - muscle imbalance.
I went back to the drawing board and I didn't know it then but I was drawing out my own Exercise Rehab therapy plan.
It sounded crazy when I was done. I do remember I had prayed and looked for wisdom to get it done - after all I didn't want to end up a paralytic! The answer was another choice of exercise - the all time clincher, the most feared, the most respected and yet the most loved- the deadlift! I know it sounded crazy but the logic I went on was if my back is hurting it is weak and my hamstrings feel tight so stretch them.
I started on the plan. With this plan I did not do squats at all. I started with an empty olympic bar. In two days I was feeling much better. I threw stretches in. Pain was starting to subside and I was able to move easily. At the end of two weeks i was absolutely pain free and deadlifting 160 kgs! At the end of the month I was pulling 200kgs!
It was quite an achievement and learning experience for me. Another battle won.
I firmly believe that muscle imbalances are the cause of lots of aches, pains and problems that can be easily solved. I have also come to believe exercise and nutrition is therapy and medicine by itself. Please see a certified fitness trainer to help you in regard to muscle imbalances and get a doctors opinion as well.
If you have any questions or are looking for a certified fitness trainer, please do not hesitate to contact me or feel free to leave comments below.
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