DIR- Generic Fitness and DIR diving

[Compressor]

You guys/gals are incredible.
I'd like to know what exercises you do to help your back.

 

[ericfine50]

For the back, I like to do upright rows on a machine. Also, after going to GUE's conference last year, where there was a talk on core strength/flexibility, the core (stomach//chest) is another area you can work. Chest Press, Core workouts help with those heavy tanks on the back, or climbing out of the water onto a boat.

I would love to see what others are doing?

Me - I am trying to get to the gym 3 to 4 days per week. In Nov and December, and I am just working on Cardio. 30 to 60 minutes on the elliptical machine to switch it up a bit. Adding weights back into the mix in January.

 

[seeker242]

For the back, I like to do upright rows on a machine.

+1 for rowing! Supremely excellent for cardio as well.

 

[jadairiii]

You guys/gals are incredible.
I'd like to know what exercises you do to help your back.

One thing that I did this year was switch from sleeping on my stomach to sleeping on my back. Within a week I went from having a very suspect back with lots of issues to complete "cure". My back now is better than it has been in 20 years. I still do core work though

Mind you, I only did this switch due to a very bad bike accident and I only could sleep on my back!

 

[Lorenzoid]

For my back, I do core exercises, mainly bridges and planks. Rows for upper back. And a lot of leg stretches for the sciatica.

I wish I could do squats like I used to, but even with perfect form, even on the Smith machine, they hurt my back. So leg presses it is.

 

[EireDiver606]

+1 for rowing! Supremely excellent for cardio as well.

It’s funny you say that, I used to do rowing in my school for a couple of years.

No one I have EVER seen can do it properly.

 

[EireDiver606]

For my back, I do core exercises, mainly bridges and planks. Rows for upper back. And a lot of leg stretches for the sciatica.

I wish I could do squats like I used to, but even with perfect form, even on the Smith machine, they hurt my back. So leg presses it is.

If you just do leg presses then you will not have functional muscles in your legs. You will only train your through s and will thus not be training any other part of your leg.

Why do they hurt your back? Backsquats with bar across shoulders? You can get padded bars or could do front squat. Either way deadlifts and squats are the best thing you can do in the gym. Period.

 

[Lorenzoid]

If you just do leg presses then you will not have functional muscles in your legs. You will only train your through s and will thus not be training any other part of your leg.

Why do they hurt your back? Backsquats with bar across shoulders? You can get padded bars or could do front squat. Either way deadlifts and squats are the best thing you can do in the gym. Period.

While it's true that leg presses work the quadriceps and not much else, I do other leg exercises that similarly work only a focused muscle group. Squats are a great overall leg workout, but my lower back always aches the next day. (It's not the shoulders.) I learned to do squats from a trainer many years ago, and I think my form is good. When I was younger, squats did not hurt my back. I think it's just an aging thing--that darned evolutionary s-curve in our spines eventually catches up with us.

 

[EireDiver606]

While it's true that leg presses work the quadriceps and not much else, I do other leg exercises that similarly work only a focused muscle group. Squats are a great overall leg workout, but my lower back always aches the next day. (It's not the shoulders.) I learned to do squats from a trainer many years ago, and I think my form is good. When I was younger, squats did not hurt my back. I think it's just an aging thing--that darned evolutionary s-curve in our spines eventually catches up with us.

It could be from bad long term posture? What do you think it’s from?

 

[Lorenzoid]

It could be from bad long term posture? What do you think it’s from?

I have no idea. It indeed could be from bad long term posture. I know the chair I sit in for hours at a stretch at work is a piece of junk, ergonomically speaking. My GP, who is the same age as me, just smiles and attributes my relatively minor backache complaint to normal aging. (He reminds me of the evolutionary compromise that enabled us to walk upright but at the cost of back problems in many people as they age.) Backs are apparently tricky things to maintain in good health and repair when they are damaged.