How to train around a low back injury
Legacy signals
Legacy popularity: 680 legacy views
Every once in a while I get people asking me how to train, around their low back injuries.
Here are 4 important pointers:
* tweak exercises that hurt
So, if Romanian Deadlifts (RDL) cause you pain, change your technique a bit.
For example, I've minimized and even eliminated RDL-specific pain by asking people to change their foot position.
Tiny technique tweaks can and will minimize pain
* substitute the exercise that hurt
Let's say that you tried changing your foot position when doing barbell squats but still feel pain.
If so, substitute them with goblet squats.
Or with landmine squats.
Or even with leg presses.
(Note: I don't train people who compete in sports like crossfit, powerlifting or olympic lifting. So, we don't care about substituting an exercise. But, if you're competing, you need to work around the injury and a coach specializing in these sports is who you should be talking to)
* change the rep scheme
Perhaps low reps worsen the pain.
If yes, it's OK to lower the weight and do more reps.
In other cases, high reps hurt people but when they switch to lower reps, they feel great.
* engage the right muscles
Especially in heavy lifts like squats and deadlifts, people forget to engage their body.
And I'm not talking about just your core.
For example:
If you look at a chart of the muscular system, you'll see that your latissimum dorsi (the big muscle of your back) connects with your low back (the joint) But, many people forget to engage their lats. As a result, the low back is the one who takes most of the load. And, when your low back takes most of the load, it's logical to feel pain.
***
Of course, there are more things to keep in mind.
Things that are limited only to training (like force vectors)...daily things like body posture...and even nutrition and supplementation.
Anyway, amoral of the story?
Low back pain is a complex subject.
It's not as simple as "do more crunches and planks" (which in some cases can be cat-astrophic)
If you've been in pain for a while and can't train the way you used to do, I suggest reaching out to me.
I've worked with many people all those years who suffered from low back pain.
Nine out of 10 times, I was able to help.
And as for the 1/10? I tapped into my network of professionals, to see if there was somebody who could help.
If you are a man over 30 who wants daily tips on looking great naked while minimizing joint pain, grab my free report here:
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
Kolkata's Top Spine Surgeons: Expertise in Minimal Access Spine Surgery for Optimal Results
Back and spine problems have become one of the most common health challenges in today's world. Most of the people who have these issues are caused by inactivity and bad body habits that result in a variety of conditions, from occasional backaches to chronic spinal diseases. Medical science has improved a lot in the last few years with the advent of minimally invasive techniques that have made the treatment of spine conditions more effective. The patients in Kolkata now can av
September 16, 2025
Article
Leading Cervical Spine Surgeons in Kolkata for Best Care
In today's fast-paced lifestyle, neck pain and cervical spine disorders have become more common. Long hours working at a desk, bad posture, and ageing-related degeneration are just a few of the main reasons leading to people in Kolkata and all over India suffering from cervical problems. For a large number of people, the problem may be controlled by physiotherapy, medication, or changes in lifestyle. Nevertheless, in some very serious conditions, the only way to regain moveme
September 10, 2025
Article
Cervical Spine Injuries: Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery
The cervical spine, which is made up of seven vertebrae at the top of the spinal column, is the main contributor to the head support, the functionality of the neck, and the protection of the spinal cord. Injuries to this part of the body can be a very big change in the life of a person, as they can affect both the mobility and the neurological function. Therefore, getting to know how to prevent, treat, and recover from these injuries is vital if one wants to have a healthy sp
August 12, 2025
Article
The Importance of Expertise in Cervical Spine Surgery in Kolkata: Why It Matters
The cervical spine, which includes seven vertebrae in the neck, is the main support for the head and allows it to move in a variety of directions. This part of the spine can be affected by such problems as, for instance, disc herniation, nerve compression, or degenerative disc disease, which will give patients symptoms like pain, stiffness, and neurological disturbances. The only solution for these problems is surgery. That is the main reason why the skill of an international
July 12, 2025