cable biceps/triceps - back pain?

[circusgirl]

Hi, another newbie lifting post from me. One of the exercises that I was advised to do when I started the lifting I was doing for around 3 months up to January or so was using the cable machine. Tricep pushdown, bicep curl.

Yesterday in my new gym I did a weights sessions and I'm finding that a) I can lift a lot more using the cable than with free weights b) back pain. Which indicates to me that I am "putting my back into it" when doing the cable exercises which I shouldn't be.

My stance is knees slightly bent, feet parallel and apart, back straight, arms pretty much stuck to side when doing th exercises. Is this machine just a bad idea, and should I just stick to hammer curls and preacher curls for biceps and kick backs with dumbells for triceps? As the very base of my back is sore today and I'm pretty sure that's why. Or is my form wrong on these exercises?

circusgirl

 

[Gladiola]

These are great exercises, so I wouldn't cut them out just yet.

Rather than just 'back straight' concentrate on SHOULDERS BACK & DOWN! I know when I do both of those exercises, but particularly tricep push down, I have a tendency to let my shoulders roll forward (typical bad posture, so pecs are tight & upper back muscles stretched).

With shoulders truely back & down, you really should be sticking your chest OUT!

Could lower back pain be from other factors too - walking around in high heels? Your ab workout? Sitting in an uncomfortable chair with bad posture for too long? Do you work your lower back muscles? Do you stretch enough to alleviate tightness that is there inevitablly for a lot of ppl just from spending lots of time sitting?

 

[circusgirl]

Actually after yet another taekwondo session I think it's actually poor posture during back kicks and hook kicks in taekwondo - which is emphasised by the increased muscle fatigue due to lifting. Because my lower back (right at the VERY bottom) aches a lot more now - I need to lean my body in the opposite direction a bit more instead of trying to stand up straight when doing those kicks as otherwise the back gets involved in "jerking" the leg instead of a smooth leg-muscle-based movement, plus I need to stretch all my muscles more and increase flexibility. Especially in the hip area....

My hamstrings are so flexible yet sideways hip movement isn't, despite stretching every second day, strange....

It could be the shoulder thing too - I will concentrate on this in my next session.

Thank you again folks for your helpful advice.

circusgirl