back problem while doing abs

[Skeeter1]

are you doing anything to strengthen your lower back ?

 

[Dannyboy]

like I said, I do seated rows. for upper back I used to do bent over rows (yates) and one armed rows but those put too much strain on my lower back.

 

[calvesodeath]

With a back problem you may not be able to do deadlifts but you should be able to do some sort of lwer back extensions to strenthen your back.

 

[TheProject]

I've also got a really weak lower back, and I was told to do hyperextensions every other day to help strengthen. I started out doing 3 sets of 5, and I'm up to 3 sets of 15 after 2 months. However, I had someone there correcting my form the first time I did 'em so I didn't make things worse.

Crunches still kill me after the first set of 25, and I occasionally have to stop during my second set, or it gets hard to breathe. I personally like to do crunches with my back resting on an aerobics ball. I can usally get more out before I have to stop, if I have to stop at all.

The roman chair doesn't hurt my back, but I'm still not strong enough to bring my legs all the way up.

 

[TheProject]

Forgot about deadlifts: didn't even attempt them at first, largely because I couldn't arch my back going into it.

I'm just now getting to the point where I can do 'em, and I've got someone watching me to make sure I keep my form.

 

[spatts]

If you think about the anatomy in that area of the body, it makes sense that working your abs would strain your back if it's weak. Those muscles support one another. Most of the people I see going around complaining about lower back pain actually have weak abs. Their poor backs are carrying those suckers around all day. Why does a pregnant woman's lower back ache? It's holding up everything in front of it; and I've seen some pregnant looking guys! LOL.

Project has strengthened his back unbelieveably in the last two months. Was previously physically incapable of arching his back...didn't know how to contract the muscles he couldn't feel to do it. We were finally able to do deadlifts for the first time last week, because he now understands the difference between arched, hunched, and flat. So wouldn't you know it, he's crankin out the crunches.

WTG, Project!