lower back pain question

trnewman · 05-21-2007, 06:50 AM

Hello,
This may be a shot in the dark, but I have been doing NROL for awhile now. I did the break in, FL1, and now in the middle of FL2. For the last month or so, everytime I do some swiss ball crunches, I get some discomfort in my lower back. I feels like a deep bruise. It doesn't hurt any other time (squats, DL, bending over, walking, etc.) and I know I didn't do anything to get a bruise there. The only thing I can think of is sometimes when I do a lunge and my form is not perfect, I feel a tightening and pain right above my tail bone. But the bruise is a little higher than the tail bone. Has anyone had a similar experience? I'm not sure if the workout has caused this or it is something entirely different. Thanks.

Hunter · 05-21-2007, 08:37 AM

You might want to post this in the injury and rehab forum.

Lisa~ · 05-21-2007, 12:58 PM

My first thought is to check your form on the swiss ball crunch. Make sure your lower back stays in contact with the ball and that you're not coming up off of the ball too far.

My next thought is to simply suggest that you do another core movement. Forget swiss ball crunches altogether and go to something like a plank that requires more stability through your core. Or if you really want to do core flexion, then go to a hanging leg raise.

Kirk · 05-22-2007, 04:32 AM

I have the exact same problem. I think my form is bad.

I didn't know about the lower back staying in contact with the ball thing. Maybe I've been doing Swiss Ball sit ups.

trnewman · 05-22-2007, 06:29 AM

I don't believe my back pain is from swiss ball crunches. I've been doing those for years before I started NROL with no problems. It's only been recently since I've been doing NROL that I've notice this pain. However, the only time I do notice it is when I get on the swiss ball (no other time like squats, deadlifts, lunges, etc.) I'm just wondering if this "bruising" is being caused by some NROL exercises and if anyone else has experience something similar.

Hunter · 05-22-2007, 07:43 AM

As to your question if others have had a similar experience, for me the answer is no.

If you're only feeling the pain when on the ball, it would appear that it is doing something to aggravate your back. Taks Lisa's advice and try some other core exercises for a while, then come back to the ball in a few weeks and see if the pain is still there. That will give you a pretty good idea of whether or not the ball is causing the pain.