Also important to make sure your back is strong - do conditioning for your back/abs.

Wouldn't recommend this!! :) -> another type of massage/stretching out: walking on teammate's back:

"The Olympics Caused My Back Pain Exercises I should've done while watching Team USA" http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/showthread.php?p=80491#post80491

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

swinging on the hammock!

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

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[ Read More... ]

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