What do you do for lower back pain? To help it, and also to prevent it, what works for you?

after making sure it's not a fracture, bone spur, or crack at the drs.... -Advil -ice during workout and after -heat with those hot water bottles you fill up with hot water (you can get them at stores like Walgreens, Longs) -Vicks, or Bengay, or Icy Hot - I like to use Vicks, but poeple in my gym use the other two, and also the Bengay/Icy Hot patches -massage and stretch it out. stretching splits when lying down on your back actually can really help a lot for lower back pain because it stretches that part too! it's a yoga stretch too. :D -hang on a bar, kind of 'jump' on the bar while hanging on it, maybe twist side to side while hanging on the bar - test to see what works for you and feels good the stretching is really good for preventing lower back pain. also be careful of your landings, don't land on your heels. strengthening your back muscles and abs is good too!

swing on the boys' rings! it's fun and works too! also giants on straps is good for stretching it out also! :D

swinging on the hammock!

Get a pull-up bar for your home to hang on, you can put it up on your room door frame, they sell them at Big 5 I think. The stretching splits like that does help a lot too, to stretch your lower back so it won't hurt.

If you're doing the conditioning where you lift the weights up and down with arms straight (good for kips, cast handstands, etc.), try it with dumbells lying down on your back. Then it's less stress on your lower back.

to help prevent getting back pain another thing is to make sure you are practicing in a good heated environment (for the winters). also stretch very well before and after workout.

Keep your back warm - especially in the winter! You might want to wear shirts covering your back when it's cold. Practice in a warm heated gym - the colder it is, there is increased risk for injury and problems like to your back, etc. Ice your back when it feels like it's starting to hurt - don't wait too long until it gets worse.

Good shoes can also make a big huge difference! Padded, tennis shoes, padded sandal shoes, etc. vs. pointy heels!

Stretching your splits & increasing flexibility does help your back. I found this on the internet: [quote]Tight hamstrings can cause the hips and pelvis to rotate back flattening the lower back and causing back problems. [/quote] http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/back/hamstrings/tighthamstrings.htm