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lower back pain after workout

NuclearNed

NuclearNed

Raconteur
Ugh... yesterday I was supersetting curls with crunches. Soon after I finished, I was pacing around the gym when out of the blue something muscular in my lower back twinged. It's been hurting ever since.

What can I do to help treat this? I put a heating pad on it last night & tried some light stretching yesterday & today. It seems like it's loosened up some, but is still pretty painful.
 
you need to put heat on it... yes, ice, initially, but you need to increase blood flow and loosen up the muscle. Ice will help inflammation and swelling, but you need to follow the ice with heat.
 
1) wtf crunches?
2) Stretch your lower back... Google is your friend
3)..... Crunches..?!?!?

There's literally hundreds of better abdominal and core exercises than crunches. Pick one, stretch, and the pain should subside. If not, I'd visit a PT to make sure you don't actually have a real problem.
 
z1ggy said:
1) wtf crunches?
2) Stretch your lower back... Google is your friend
3)..... Crunches..?!?!?

There's literally hundreds of better abdominal and core exercises than crunches. Pick one, stretch, and the pain should subside. If not, I'd visit a PT to make sure you don't actually have a real problem.
Click to expand...

ok, so not exactly crunches... I have been doing weighted "crunches" on a cable machine with a rope attachment. I've been doing them in supersets with my "muscle of the day" exercises in order to build & maintain heart rate & momentum.
 
NuclearNed said:
ok, so not exactly crunches... I have been doing weighted "crunches" on a cable machine with a rope attachment. I've been doing them in supersets with my "muscle of the day" exercises in order to build & maintain heart rate & momentum.
Click to expand...

Welllllll those are two different things lol but okay, those are acceptable.

So the back never hurts at any other time, except after doing that movement?
 
z1ggy said:
Welllllll those are two different things lol but okay, those are acceptable.

So the back never hurts at any other time, except after doing that movement?
Click to expand...

"crunches" is easier to type than "crunchy type thing on a cable machine with a rope attachment" 🙂

This is a first for my lower back, at least on the right side. Several years ago I strained my lower back on the left side while doing bench press, but it seems to be 99% healed.
 
NuclearNed said:
"crunches" is easier to type than "crunchy type thing on a cable machine with a rope attachment" 🙂

This is a first for my lower back, at least on the right side. Several years ago I strained my lower back on the left side while doing bench press, but it seems to be 99% healed.
Click to expand...

If I were you, this is how I'd approach the situation:

1) Stop doing that specific exercise. Work your abs via planks, ab wheel, etc.
2) Stretch the lower back out every day for 5-10mins
2a) If no pain on the new ab exercises, go back to old rope exercise
2b) If there's still pain, see a PT


General question: Do you specifically ever work your lower back muscles during your routines? If you're neglecting it, those muscles may be weak. Since I'm not you (and I don't know your pain tolerance) I can't say if what you're experience is just muscle fatigue and soreness, or potential injury.

Also, just my .02, but I'm not even a huge fan of that rope exercise. Done properly I think it's fine, but people may still tend to arch the back a lot. When in life (and lifting) is an arched back ever a good thing? This is why I stick to planks, ab wheel, leg lifts and wood choppers.
 
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z1ggy said:
If I were you, this is how I'd approach the situation:

1) Stop doing that specific exercise. Work your abs via planks, ab wheel, etc.
2) Stretch the lower back out every day for 5-10mins
2a) If no pain on the new ab exercises, go back to old rope exercise
2b) If there's still pain, see a PT


General question: Do you specifically ever work your lower back muscles during your routines? If you're neglecting it, those muscles may be weak.
Click to expand...

good advice, thanks!

Yeah - I use a Roman chair at least once a week. On leg day, I rotate straight-legged deadlifts and good mornings (mostly for hamstrings, but a good lower back workout at the same time).
 
sounds like back spasms i used to get. like someone stuck a tiny sharp knife and gave a little twist. quick, but the pain spread and lingered for days.

stretching helps relieve the pain a bit.
 
day 2, more stretching yesterday & today, more heating pad last night... it has evolved from being a sharp localized pain in my lower left lumbar area to being a dull localized pain. I think that is a good sign that it is healing
 
NuclearNed said:
thanks, I never can remember. is there a rule of thumb?
Click to expand...

It used to be if under X hours use ice. After X hours, use heat.

Not sure if it is still true.

I had a similar problem 6 months ago. Lifted Sunday. Went to heavy on Pendalay rows. Tweaked my back. On Wednesday at 7 PM it still hurt. Had 3 days of hellish sleep. I took a double dose of advil or whatever the hell the OTC anti-inflammatory is. At 7:30 PM I show up at pickup B-Ball and I was fine. Slept like a baby that night.

I thouguht it was a muscle. I don't know what it was but anti-inflammatorys are your friend ;-)
 
z1ggy said:
1) wtf crunches?
2) Stretch your lower back... Google is your friend
3)..... Crunches..?!?!?

There's literally hundreds of better abdominal and core exercises than crunches. Pick one, stretch, and the pain should subside. If not, I'd visit a PT to make sure you don't actually have a real problem.
Click to expand...

No shit. I do Ab roll outs. I also do situps but making sure I have a straight spine. I used to do 25 lb plates on my chest with perfect form and had no issues. I did not increase to 30 pounds ever because my form went to shit.

Crazy huh ... even sit ups have proper form. It's not just squats and deads. It all comes down to shoulders back and activated core (muscles around spine are tight).

I can squat and deadlift 300 pounds. I have no belt. I have good form. Nothing is more important. A strong core and good form. This is not unique to these two exercises. Do situps with a straight spine with activated core. If you can't .... you can't actually do a proper sit up.

I am not totally against crunches but they are stupid unless you are an elite body builder or something. I'm assuming that the OP is not elite. I mean really elite. Like elite by definition of top 10 in the world.
 
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NuclearNed said:
"crunches" is easier to type than "crunchy type thing on a cable machine with a rope attachment" 🙂

This is a first for my lower back, at least on the right side. Several years ago I strained my lower back on the left side while doing bench press, but it seems to be 99% healed.
Click to expand...

There is no proper term for this?

I write software at work and my recent bitching about the improper use of words lately has created a friendly debate among coworkers.

What is it called?

Googles has told me:
cable crunches

So, you were doing seated cable crunches with a rope attachment when facing away from the machine? Or towards the machine? Seated? The simple use of the correct verbs and nouns will tell us everything in 5 words or less.

Learn the terminology and use it properly.
 
IHateMyJob2004 said:
There is no proper term for this?

I write software at work and my recent bitching about the improper use of words lately has created a friendly debate among coworkers.

What is it called?

Googles has told me:
cable crunches

So, you were doing seated cable crunches with a rope attachment when facing away from the machine? Or towards the machine? Seated? The simple use of the correct verbs and nouns will tell us everything in 5 words or less.

Learn the terminology and use it properly.
Click to expand...

Ask yourself, does it really matter?
 
Zivic said:
you likely have tight psoas and hip flexors... look up psoas stretches
Click to expand...

I occasionally have pain in the same area. I initially teaked mine while moving a bunkbed
Went to my Chiropractor and then a massage, the massage therapist suggested the same stretches and it has helped alot.
 
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