How to Exercise With a Lower Back Injury
Quick Tip: Stay Fit With a Low Back Injury
Quick Tip: Stay Fit With a Low Back InjuryIt’s an all-too-common scenario – you get inspired about a new exercise program, you excitedly launch into the first series of workouts, and within a week you’re laid up with a sore back, injured knee, aggravated shoulder or inflamed foot.
But there’s no reason that you have to lose fitness and gain weight when you’re injured. Many of the athletes and clients who I train find that they are more fit after rehabilitating an injury because they get a chance to try new forms of training during the healing period. Here is an example of a workout for lower back injuries (most exercises can be viewed at www.pacificfit.net/exercises):
Lower Back Injury Workout Basics:
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Complete the following circuit 3x during the week.
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Perform 30 seconds for each exercise, then rest 15 seconds and move on.
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Do the entire circuit 4-6x.
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Complete 30-60 minutes of non-weight bearing cardio on the non-weightlifting days.
Lower Back Injury Workout:
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Machine Chest Press
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Lat Pulldown
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Machine Shoulder Press
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Seated Rows
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Stability Ball Squats
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Machine Leg Extensions
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Machine Leg Curls
For a little review on using exercise machines, please see my episode on weight-lifting machines. And to find out how to adapt your workout routine for other injuries, please check out my Quick Tips for ankle or foot injuries, knee injuries, and shoulder injuries.
If you’re dealing with a chronic or acute injury, I’m always happy to network with your physician and, with their input, design a customized exercise program for you to help you stay in the best shape possible.
Quick & Dirty Tip: You should not consider this to be medical advice, and you should follow a physician’s recommendation for movement about an injured joint. However, if your doctor tells you to simply rest for 2-4 weeks, you need to specifically ask them about alternatives to that all-too-common prescription. There’s no reason that you can’t stay in lean and fit while rehabilitating!
Lower Back Pain image courtesy of Shutterstock
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.
