My "cure" for back pain from slalom

[bojans]

I am getting back into skiing after several years off partially due to injuries. The first couple times i skied this year my back was so bad I almost gave up skiing again, the main culprit seemed to be the deep water start. Even after healing up a bit and using a drop ski to get up I could feel my back tightening up as I skied even with only running 2 passes.

 

I had been stretching my ham strings and quads and thought I was limber enough to ski. I don't know what caused the epiphany that some if not all of my problem may still be due to muscle stiffness, but I found this stretch that seems to have made a world of difference.

Last night was the first time I was able to ski more than 2 passes (did 4). I am sore (arms and legs) but my back back is just a bit tight. Seems my issues were all related to the tightness of the hip flexor and glute. Hope this can help someone else get over the back pain...

[Than_Bogan]

These are indeed key. Also a good massage therapist can get in there and put a beating on your hips and make things much better. (Mine refers to me as a "tight ass white boy" which it's hard to argue with.)

 

And finally, you can roll your body weight on a tennis ball around the top and side of your hips/butt. I sometimes find this excruciating, but long term it seems to lead to both less back pain and better skiing. Good one to do while watching TV.

[lakeaustinskier]

All really good ideas. The stretch she is doing is a yoga move (I can't remember the name). Even if you don't have time etc. for yoga I highly suggest attending several classes just to get some stretching ideas.

[teammalibu]

I pulled a muscle in my hip sunday and Stephanie Stange looked at me and said it was the piriformis muscle. She showed me the same stretch! I was able to ski the same day. I can relate to the TAWB syndrome!!

[tbrenchley]

My cure for back pain is go and see my ski partner Kevin who is a chiropractor...ever skier should have one! (A friend named Kevin and a chiropractor)

[Mrs_MS]

Pulled hammy and now lower back affected!

Stretching

Foam rolling

Icing

Hanging

 

When will it get better???????

[ral]

These work better for me...

[klindy]

Go for it @ral Be sure to have someone video your attempt!

[nam1975]

The foam roller works great on hips...I tried every stretch out there..and this thing worked magic in 10 minutes.

 

 

[SkiJay]

Here are some other popular post-tournament stretches that are great for the neck and back:

 

http://files.myopera.com/roomx/albums/60135/image029.jpg

 

http://files.sharenator.com/4221_2111_hanging_around_drunk_I_gave_up_drinking_when_I_woke_up_collection-s300x449-52587-580.jpg

 

http://www.davidwygant.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//unique-sleeping-styles-1.jpg

 

http://www.legaljuice.com/drunk%20funny%20passed%20out%20urinal%20wasted%20inebriated-thumb.jpg

 

[webbdawg99]

@SkiJay Those look like post-tournament stretches from a collegiate event.

[MarcusBrown]

www.MobilityWOD.com

 

Life changing....

[PatRe]

@bojans Great stretch video! Thanks for sharing.

[ozski]

I watched that video closely and briefly forgot all about my back.

[skibum29]

I roll on a roller if my back starts to hurt its simple and it helps a lot!

[Chef23]

I am not nearly flexible enough to do the stretch the way the woman in the video is. My PT gave me a couple of other stretches that work the same stuff. I do the Pigeon Pose the @scottchipman posted as well and that helps.

[gregy]

@chef23 I tried to perform the stretch the woman did in the video. I couldn't get of the floor for 5 minutes cause I was laughing too hard. I couldn't even get close to what she is doing.

[Chef23]

@gregy that is the reason I didn't stretch for years. I would look at some stretching program and I couldn't get into any of the starting positions. After I had back surgery I explained that to my PT and he gave me a stretching program I could do. I was still sore after stretching for about 2 weeks.