At first I thought swimming would be one of the best things to do, but after hearing what you said, I now agree swimming may not be the best thing for back pain.
Backstroke works every time for relief of the back pain. Problems are just as you stated: you need to be a good swimmer, maintaining the correct position is hard. When you first try it, you will fail multiple times, especially keeping you swim lane straight, but after a while its like walking on bycicle. Btw it helps to have glasses with sun protection and wider lens so that the edges of your lane are visible in the corner of your eyes (so you can swim straight)
Former competative swimmer and the problem I see is that swimming incorrectly can be very hard on your back and legs. The whole point of swimming is moving thru the water by working with the water smoothly and easily. Freestyle kick is small movements using your hips, not huge leg or knee movements. But you don't even need your legs to swimming freestyle well, just using your abs and head placement your arms can pull you thru. I have to swim 3 times a week for hip pain, even severe, I just have to adjust how much and how I kick. Walking in the water with back pain will make it so much worse, I never walk if I have hip pain, I swim and minimally kick. (They have foam to even keep your legs up if they keep sinking, but better to learn body placement.)
Thank you so much for all explanations on swimming. II joined swimming because of backache and am not yet a good swimmer, so whenever am swimming, the lower back pain worsens. Though am no longer being guided so much by the coach my awimming skills needs to improve.
I am glad to hear that you have been swimming, I do hope that you start to see some improvement. Please keep me posted on your progress. Best wishes, Ashley.
I was going to start tomorrow😂 SO GLAD i saw this, in moving towards phase 3/in early stage of phase 3 after disc issue..been strenghtning, but i think ill wait another maybe two months and try then. Thanks so much!!
Really great advice. I wish I had seen your video earlier. I was wrongly advised to swim by my physio when I was in the acute phase and my back pain worsened from a disc bulge to an annular tear with much worse bulging
Actually, I feel no pain from ddd during summer when I swim every day for 3 months. (59 yrs) I feel so comfortable while swimming backstroke. The best moments are the ones when I do not move at all, but only float on the lake. How do you explain this?
I enjoyed some gentle swimming at the local spa, I have a spur in the neck too. I did feel it the next day. I like floating backwards and using my arms at my side and using my legs in the water to move me along. I found that the breast stroke was impacting upon my neck.
I wanna get into swimming for my own health, I'm not interested in competing in the professional sports but I do wanna beable to hold a long workout with it in a few weeks after starting. I hope to get a new Job with AMR, is am an EMT but I dont have a real workout schedule, if I could get an new job I want to go swimming after my shift. I know it's not a very smart idea to push myself so hard especially as a beginner, but I was wondering if you could get me give me a link to ways to improve my physical health as well as managing stress the best way possible with tips about swimming. Thanks in advance!
I have sat to work on my PC and can not move for lunch easily. Earlier, I had a bit of exercise stretching was eased. But now it worsening to the extent of standing and movement in bed even. Your advice?😊
While doing my hydro exercises I have been doing short laps of a kind of bastardised breaststroke (I think). I’m using a noodle so I have more flotation so don’t need to swim at all aggressively. This way I can minimise leg and especially lower back movement. Seems to be working well for me so far! I’m only doing minimal amounts though. Little 30m swims amongst other hydro exercises. I guess I’m at stage 2 of recovery, my back has for the most part stopped spasming but is still locked up pretty tight and feels quite fragile.
Thank you for these amazing videos. Would you recommend heavy leg workouts, including leg press, squats, or deadlifts? I am trying to build muscle and max out on weights (I do more than 2.5 times my bodyweight), but I do not want to risk any type of disk issues in the future (I have had acute lower back pains in the past). Even if someone gets the form perfectly correct and builds up to the weight, are these exercises safe or better to avoid? If best to avoid, what would you recommend for someone trying to build muscle in lower body? Thank you very much!
I asked this question to my amazing physio this week and she said weight will be the last last thing. Loading from above put additional stress and pressure on the disks. In the meantime she said to do calistenic stuff and use body weigth progression to keep building muscle. Hope it helps!
I’m glad I’ve seen this now as I was thinking of swimming today with acute lower back pain, phase 1 as you put it… wondering what machines would be good to use in the gym for someone like me… ? I’ve always been active but I can’t even move smoothly nowadays due to severe pain and it makes me feel miserable 😭
if you’re still in “phase 1” you shouldn’t be doing anything on machines yet imo. im in the same spot right now but everything i’ve been reading about lately has been telling me that we need to be doing very light body weight exercises and constant stretches. the big issue with using machines at this point is that theres a really high chance we would only strengthen the muscles that are already overworked, because of our bodies muscle memory(which is most likely why we have back pain in the first place). good luck in figuring everything out
@@nicodemuslee thank you for your detailed response! I’m in late phase 1 (both my neck and lower back 🥲) and have just started having chiropractor treatment to complement my physio sessions… my chiropractor has also advised me not to do any workout using the GYM machines for the same reasons you have mentioned… so been doing light cardio exercises with lots of stretching… hope this will help me get back to my normal routine… so, fingers are all crossed 🤞 wishing you good luck with your recovery ❤️🩹 journey, too!
@@fbaykur74 i’ve lightened my exercise load in the past two weeks and already i feel improvement. We must’ve been pushing ourselves too hard trying to get better earlier, our lower backs really need this time to properly heal. Also, I’ve been recommended to walk laps around the pool as opposed to swimming laps, how have your results been?
No wonder I get worse after swimming, I do free style with snorkel but the arch at breaststroke 😮😢. I have scoliosis in c and a pain under my neck a disc issue.
@@arshdhillon6012 swimming helped a lot transformed my life regarding back pain I think one has to be careful while doing leg action of breaststroke which if done improperly can cause pain It is hard to create muscle memory when you’re in late 30’s but still I feel lucky I learned freestyle in high school
Seems like breast stroke would be a good start to me. Less lats, traps, and rhomboids for me. The reason I don't like breast stroke is how hard it is for my erector chain. I'll play with it when we move into a place with a pool next months... for 10-15 minutes a shot.
I have been searching UA-cam for days to get the information you have just given. At last, very clear and helpful advice. Thanks
You're very welcome! I am happy to hear that it has been helpful. Best wishes, Ashley.
At first I thought swimming would be one of the best things to do, but after hearing what you said, I now agree swimming may not be the best thing for back pain.
Have you tried out any of the exercises? Please try and let me know if they help with the pain. Best Wishes, Ashley
I have found it helpful for my SI joint. If it feels good- do it. I think our body tells us.
Backstroke works every time for relief of the back pain. Problems are just as you stated: you need to be a good swimmer, maintaining the correct position is hard.
When you first try it, you will fail multiple times, especially keeping you swim lane straight, but after a while its like walking on bycicle. Btw it helps to have glasses with sun protection and wider lens so that the edges of your lane are visible in the corner of your eyes (so you can swim straight)
Hi Serban. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes, Ashley.
Former competative swimmer and the problem I see is that swimming incorrectly can be very hard on your back and legs. The whole point of swimming is moving thru the water by working with the water smoothly and easily. Freestyle kick is small movements using your hips, not huge leg or knee movements. But you don't even need your legs to swimming freestyle well, just using your abs and head placement your arms can pull you thru. I have to swim 3 times a week for hip pain, even severe, I just have to adjust how much and how I kick. Walking in the water with back pain will make it so much worse, I never walk if I have hip pain, I swim and minimally kick. (They have foam to even keep your legs up if they keep sinking, but better to learn body placement.)
Hi. Thank you for sharing that information! Glad you have found out how to manage the pain. Best wishes, Ashley.
Brilliant video thanks for helping all of us who are looking to recover faster! 🙏
Thank you so much! Glad you found the video helpful. Do let me know how it goes with the exercises. Best wishes, Ashley.
Thank you so much for all explanations on swimming. II joined swimming because of backache and am not yet a good swimmer, so whenever am swimming, the lower back pain worsens. Though am no longer being guided so much by the coach my awimming skills needs to improve.
I am glad to hear that you have been swimming, I do hope that you start to see some improvement. Please keep me posted on your progress. Best wishes, Ashley.
I was going to start tomorrow😂 SO GLAD i saw this, in moving towards phase 3/in early stage of phase 3 after disc issue..been strenghtning, but i think ill wait another maybe two months and try then. Thanks so much!!
Really great advice. I wish I had seen your video earlier. I was wrongly advised to swim by my physio when I was in the acute phase and my back pain worsened from a disc bulge to an annular tear with much worse bulging
Actually, I feel no pain from ddd during summer when I swim every day for 3 months. (59 yrs) I feel so comfortable while swimming backstroke. The best moments are the ones when I do not move at all, but only float on the lake. How do you explain this?
Your videos are fantastic. Thank you.
Thank you so much! Glad to hear the video was informative. Best wishes, Ashley.
I had back surgery unfortunately Pain come back after 6 years.
Now if I don't swim next day I want be able to do my mornal daily activities.
This is my dilemma. I feel like swimming is the only thing that helps
Thank you for your well educated answer.
You're welcome. I hope it helped. Best wishes, Ashley.
I enjoyed some gentle swimming at the local spa, I have a spur in the neck too. I did feel it the next day. I like floating backwards and using my arms at my side and using my legs in the water to move me along. I found that the breast stroke was impacting upon my neck.
Glad to hear that the swimming is helping. Do let me know how you fair on. Best wishes, Ashley.
completely disagree, I couldn't get out of bed yesterday I went to the sauna n swam for 4 hours I'm in no pain now, so
Thanks for this explanation!
You're welcome. I hope it helped. Best wishes, Ashley.
I wanna get into swimming for my own health, I'm not interested in competing in the professional sports but I do wanna beable to hold a long workout with it in a few weeks after starting.
I hope to get a new Job with AMR, is am an EMT but I dont have a real workout schedule, if I could get an new job I want to go swimming after my shift.
I know it's not a very smart idea to push myself so hard especially as a beginner, but I was wondering if you could get me give me a link to ways to improve my physical health as well as managing stress the best way possible with tips about swimming.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks for your explanation
You're welcome. I do hope that it helped. Best wishes, Ashley.
Please share about SI joint issues
Thanks for ur information
You're welcome. I hope that is was helpful. Best wishes, Ashley.
I have sat to work on my PC and can not move for lunch easily. Earlier, I had a bit of exercise stretching was eased. But now it worsening to the extent of standing and movement in bed even. Your advice?😊
While doing my hydro exercises I have been doing short laps of a kind of bastardised breaststroke (I think). I’m using a noodle so I have more flotation so don’t need to swim at all aggressively. This way I can minimise leg and especially lower back movement. Seems to be working well for me so far! I’m only doing minimal amounts though. Little 30m swims amongst other hydro exercises.
I guess I’m at stage 2 of recovery, my back has for the most part stopped spasming but is still locked up pretty tight and feels quite fragile.
Thank you for these amazing videos. Would you recommend heavy leg workouts, including leg press, squats, or deadlifts? I am trying to build muscle and max out on weights (I do more than 2.5 times my bodyweight), but I do not want to risk any type of disk issues in the future (I have had acute lower back pains in the past). Even if someone gets the form perfectly correct and builds up to the weight, are these exercises safe or better to avoid? If best to avoid, what would you recommend for someone trying to build muscle in lower body? Thank you very much!
I asked this question to my amazing physio this week and she said weight will be the last last thing. Loading from above put additional stress and pressure on the disks. In the meantime she said to do calistenic stuff and use body weigth progression to keep building muscle. Hope it helps!
Nice video 😌
Yes
Thank you. I hope you found the video helpful. Best wishes, Ashley
Is swimming is good with spondylolisthesis?
Sound advice thanks
You are most welcome. I do hope that the video contributes towards your recovery. Best wishes, Ashley.
I usually snorkel so no need to get up breath I can just do that
I’m glad I’ve seen this now as I was thinking of swimming today with acute lower back pain, phase 1 as you put it… wondering what machines would be good to use in the gym for someone like me… ? I’ve always been active but I can’t even move smoothly nowadays due to severe pain and it makes me feel miserable 😭
if you’re still in “phase 1” you shouldn’t be doing anything on machines yet imo. im in the same spot right now but everything i’ve been reading about lately has been telling me that we need to be doing very light body weight exercises and constant stretches. the big issue with using machines at this point is that theres a really high chance we would only strengthen the muscles that are already overworked, because of our bodies muscle memory(which is most likely why we have back pain in the first place). good luck in figuring everything out
@@nicodemuslee thank you for your detailed response! I’m in late phase 1 (both my neck and lower back 🥲) and have just started having chiropractor treatment to complement my physio sessions… my chiropractor has also advised me not to do any workout using the GYM machines for the same reasons you have mentioned… so been doing light cardio exercises with lots of stretching… hope this will help me get back to my normal routine… so, fingers are all crossed 🤞 wishing you good luck with your recovery ❤️🩹 journey, too!
@@fbaykur74 i’ve lightened my exercise load in the past two weeks and already i feel improvement. We must’ve been pushing ourselves too hard trying to get better earlier, our lower backs really need this time to properly heal. Also, I’ve been recommended to walk laps around the pool as opposed to swimming laps, how have your results been?
No wonder I get worse after swimming, I do free style with snorkel but the arch at breaststroke 😮😢.
I have scoliosis in c and a pain under my neck a disc issue.
Thank you 🙏
You’re welcome 😊 I hope it helps. Best wishes, Ashley.
THANK YOU
You're welcome. I hope it helped. Best wishes, Ashley.
When i swim.. it relieves my back pain.. why?
Something to do with how the water takes the weight of the body. Hydrotherapy exercises have been the best thing for my lower back pain ever
I’m in phase 2 pain level can I go for freestyle swimming or should I wait
So how are things now bro?
@@arshdhillon6012 swimming helped a lot transformed my life regarding back pain
I think one has to be careful while doing leg action of breaststroke which if done improperly can cause pain
It is hard to create muscle memory when you’re in late 30’s but still I feel lucky I learned freestyle in high school
@@bilalbashirIs backstroke a good option?
@@Ivv93 backstroke is also good
Seems like breast stroke would be a good start to me. Less lats, traps, and rhomboids for me. The reason I don't like breast stroke is how hard it is for my erector chain. I'll play with it when we move into a place with a pool next months... for 10-15 minutes a shot.
Let me know how it goes. Best wishes, Ashley.
Are you, any MD? How would - you know? Lumbar - not ever, ugh! of these - two personal areas. It makes sick, and healthy. Iliac artery! Solar plex.