Back Pain

[Guy Incognito 0]

Alright, on Saturday night I skated in a private (invite only) drop-in. For the first time in about 5 on the ice I experienced no back pain. I didn't change anything from what I do any other time. It gave me hope because I thought, "You're new to hockey, it's a sport that puts a lot of pressure on that area of the body... you're finally getting used to it." I skated Monday at public (open) skate, then skated last night in a stick and puck/drop-in. In those two sessions since the no-pain session, I've had back pain again. I am trying to skate more with my chest out and bent knees, but it doesn't seem to help. Also, on a sprint down the ice I don't see any other way to get a fast take-off without an aggressive lean. This seems to be a chronic condition, so I'd like to get it to stop. I do back stretches prior to the sessions (such as the push-up with my belt buckle on the floor). I'm thinking it may be my bed at home, too. Any insight?

[Hobbes_86 0]

Is it a general soreness or a sharp acute pain?

If just a general sore area its most likely muscle pain from not being used to skating like you mentioned earlier. So keep up with the stretching before and after each session. Maybe take some Motrin or Aleve to help with the pain.

If it’s a sharp pain go see a doctor or a chiropractor.

[GH_ID 0]

IMO, you'll have to start training at the gym your lower back. There's a few machines that concentrate on the strenght of your lower back and I think it's probably why you're having these kinds of problems. As you said, there's a lot of pressure in that area when skating and maybe your dorsal muscles aren't strong enough.

[Guy Incognito 0]

You guys are probably right. Is there anything you know of to do at home as opposed to the gym? I don't really have the time or money considering my family, job and hockey. I'd be willing to put some time in at home which would go over quite a bit better with the old lady. ;)

Edit: found some decent stuff here: http://www.getrolling.com/orbit/sk8pain.html

[tsanga 0]

You can do all of these at home:

http://www.back.com/articles-exercises.html

The exercise "Lie on your Stomach over Ball" can be done without a ball with your stomach on the floor. They alternately raise your legs while reaching with your palms down and lifting your arms up. You can lift just one leg/hand, or any combination of 2 or 3 legs/arms.

[TBLfan 25]

Look for some "core" training. Work your back AND abs so that you get the opposing muscle groups(they work together!).

I'm on the shelf right now with back spasms and a pinched nerve. :( I feel your pain... and probably a bit more because I'm not "allowed" to play.

[Ogie 0]

There is a great book you should pick up. It's called the Complete Book of Abs. Here is a link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037575143...7575244?ie=UTF8

One of the most common causes of lower back pain is poor core (ab) strength. Most of the exercises in this book can be done at home. Also, there is a great section on the back, and what to do to help prevent back pain and injury. You might also concentrate your streching on the hamstrings and glutes, rather than trying to strech your back via the method you mentioned.

[chk hrd 164]

is the pain just in your back or does it radiate down one or both legs? If it is centralized it may be a muscle spasm, overworked muscles, facet pain, etc.. If it radiates it may be from something putting pressure on the nerve (usually a bulging/herniated disk).

The safe bet is to have it looked at. It may be something as minor as you put on some additional weight, bad mattress, stress, posture, shoes, ect or even from sitting on your wallet. But it also could be something worse.

Strong core muscles are imortant. The stomach muscles are very important in keeping your back in shape.

Take an anti-inflamitory pain releiver (aleve, motrin, etc) either before or after skating. Also ice the area. When you ice it, lie on your side with a pillow between your knees and your knees slightly bent. I would not use any heat until you see a doctor so he can determine if it is a muscular or other problem.

Welcome to the world of back pain.

[ktang 34]

Maybe, in the Saturday night drop-in, you had more rests on the bench than in the Monday public skate and the stick-and-puck. If there is nothing wrong structurally (see the doc), then it could be the endurance of your erector spinae or other back muscles.

When you accelerate, do you try to arch your back / keep it straight and move the shoulders forward, or do you round it to get the weight forward? I think there would be less stress on the back if you round it (Bure and other Euro players).

[Canuck77 0]

I happen to be a chiropractor. Most of us play without any pain. The pain is definitely letting you know that something might be wrong. Obviously I can't diagnose you over a message board. But its not going to hurt to go get a checkup.

If you decide to go to a chiropractor make sure they will take an x-ray to see exactly what is going on. If they won't take one move on to the next chiropractor. You can always ask when you call to make the appointment. Simply put to see is to know. If not they are flying blind. I won't touch anyone without an x-ray and a thorough examination.

A checkup is the way to go, it could be nothing or it could be a sign of more serious things to come.

good luck.

If you decide to give chiropractic a try I could always help you find one in your area.

Paul

[Storm 0]

After a long lay off my back would always kill. I had come to expect it until I tried...

Yoga!

I do it as soon as I get out of bed.

I got my routine from this book

or I watch Yoga Zone on the 'One' channel in Canada.

I know what you're probably thinking at the idea of doing Yoga. I felt the same way.

[pantherfan 0]

If you haven't played hockey in a long while it can just be that you are hunched over with the puck too long, alot of our players get it when we start back up again and in grass roots levels we get it alot aswell.

[xMenace 0]

How old are you?

One cause of back pain, especially in teenage athletes, is a muscle imbalance. Your quads can become much stronger than your hams causing tension on the hip flexors which stresses your lower back. Solution includes aggressive stretching regimne and weight training to balance the strength. At least this is what our kinesiologist more or less explained to me re my son.

Get it checked out by a sports medicine specialist.

[top 0]

get a longerhockey stick.. ive recomended that for eveyone and it seems to help a handful

[capes921 0]

i've always had low back pain, and i went to the chiropractor for it for a year, year and a half and it didn't help. When i was at physical therapy for my ankle, the therapist discovered that one of my legs was longer than the other. Turns out from gettin hit so much or somethin rotated my pelvis, and that was what caused the pain. all they did was push on one leg while i pushed back and it rotated back into place and i'm feelin good

[Guy Incognito 0]

Thank you for the responses. I'm 30, and actually went to a chiropractor yesterday. They took x-rays and noticed some slight degeneration in my spine, and he commented it was probably from the constant pounding of football in high school and college from hitting and weightlifting (cleans and squats). He said I've been pretty active so the degeneration isn't from sedentary habits. He also said that since I am new to hockey that I am employing many muscles that haven't been used/hit as hard as they are right now. The balance coupled with the new constant bending over that I'm not used to is putting a harsh demand on those muscles (fairly obvious, but still relevant). He said the solution will be a combination of strengthening, stretching and decompression that will improve my situation. He didn't mention anything about my posture, but interesting you mention to roll my back a bit. People have always told me "stick your chest out and bend your knees." Well, in order to effectively skate there needs to be some forward flex to get going, so I looked it up on the net and several sites suggested a relaxed posture as opposed to the traditional train of thought of forcing the chest out and arching the back.

Edit: By the way, he did electric stim and ultrasound for the first session.

[xMenace 0]

Thank you for the responses. I'm 30, and actually went to a chiropractor yesterday. They took x-rays and noticed some slight degeneration in my spine, and he commented it was probably from the constant pounding of football in high school and college from hitting and weightlifting (cleans and squats). He said I've been pretty active so the degeneration isn't from sedentary habits. He also said that since I am new to hockey that I am employing many muscles that haven't been used/hit as hard as they are right now. The balance coupled with the new constant bending over that I'm not used to is putting a harsh demand on those muscles (fairly obvious, but still relevant). He said the solution will be a combination of strengthening, stretching and decompression that will improve my situation. He didn't mention anything about my posture, but interesting you mention to roll my back a bit. People have always told me "stick your chest out and bend your knees." Well, in order to effectively skate there needs to be some forward flex to get going, so I looked it up on the net and several sites suggested a relaxed posture as opposed to the traditional train of thought of forcing the chest out and arching the back.

Edit: By the way, he did electric stim and ultrasound for the first session.

Right on!

[ktang 34]

Guy Incognito:

Could you post the links to the sites that talk about the relaxed posture?

Thanks in advance...

[Guy Incognito 0]

http://www.skatecentral.com/custom/article...ate.primer.html

http://www.getrolling.com/orbit/sk8pain.html

http://talk.skatewarehouse.com/archive/index.php/t-179.html

http://board.usfigureskating.org/default.a...id=6&read=18150

[sonsplayhockey 0]

I've had lower back pain for the past 20 years since I was a teen.

Its at its worse when I have not exercised for a long time then lift something heavy incorrectly.

Many new adult hockey players lean at the waist instead of bending the knees and then get sore backs.

Earlier this summer I lifted something heavy and did it incorrectly and really got into pain for about 2 weeks. Finally saw a physical therapist. She gave me lots of streteches and strengthening exercises.

The most simple ones were to lie down on your back and pull your knees to your chest wraping your hands below the knee caps. gradually pull in and do this for up to 60 seconds. Another is to bring the knees (folded) to one side (say the left) then look to the opposite side (say the right with the hands out (in a T formation). There are lots others but I do those stretches up to 3 times a day. I especially stretch right after the game when I get home. I actually feel BETTER the morning after a game because I think the adrenalline works out the muscles and if I strecth afterwords, I"m looser in the morning than before. Sit ups or Leg lifts will help with the stomach.

My insurance covered the Physio for the first 4 visits which was all I needed. I'm 40 years old so my Dr suggested the physio so that It would be preventative.