Couple of questions

Best choice would be using a pull buoy.

Backstroke might be the best bet if a pull buoy is not working well for you.

GO easy with the pull buoy. I have 3 herniated lumbar discs. The buoy aggravated the area...just go slow and incremental. I have quit football(soccer) b/c of the discs... but I played league up until I was 36...so I can't moan too much.

Pull bouys hurt my back, I never use them, or almost never. I would avoid fly and breaststroke for sure, back and free might help, keep your strokes nice and long and make sure when you breathe you rotate your body and don't injure your neck. Also I would advise against using a kickboard, because it very well may strain your back. Just my :2cents:

I returned to swimming 9 years ago mainly for lower back rehab. My experience is this: -Kickboards......BAD! -Freestyle....GOOD provided you keep your head and neck aligned when you breathe (roll, don't lift) -Pull Buoys... not necessary, if you keep your head down, your legs shouldn't drag (kicking or not) -ART and ROLFING....GOOD (hurts but grin and bear it) -Also try to engage the lower abdominals for everything! I couldn't agree more with this post. Pull buoys hurt my back when I tried them. Concentrate on core development and alignment. It prevents nerve aggravation in my back. Backstroke is not hard on my back, but a backstroke start is. If you do backstroke in an IM, you don't have a backstroke start, but you have to do fly and that bothers my lower back. Too bad because I like it. I am picking *** as my second stroke. If I concentrate on core alignment and don't let my form go bad, it is OK on my back. I think the trick is to not overpower your kick. I feel it is a good stroke to give my shoulders a break from free. You use chest of course, but the ROM is different from free and I think it is a nice alternative. If you broke your back and have leg numbness, you need to follow the direction of doctors. If you are not a conditioned swimmer, your form can fall apart in a one hour swim and this can lead to problems. Take it slow. How long ago was your back injury?

It almost goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that gentle stretching esp. in large muscle groups in your legs should accompany any rehab that you do.

Thanks for all the replies. It's been broken for two years. It's instable only moved to a phase 1 I think. Anyways I would listen to my surgeon, but he spent all of about 5 minutes looking at the xray and giving me advice. I go to physical theorpy the 15th so they should be able to help me with stretching as I'm very stiff, again thanks for the help I appreciate it.

Anyways I would listen to my surgeon, but he spent all of about 5 minutes looking at the xray and giving me advice. It might be to your benefit to get a second opinion to either confirm or question your surgeon's advice if you haven't already done so. Many docs have seen certain injuries so many times that their advice might seem cursory but is instead rooted in experience.

It almost goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that gentle stretching esp. in large muscle groups in your legs should accompany any rehab that you do. Amen Peter. I'mnot as religous as I should be about it but I'm doing more now that I am swimming, which is yet another good thing. Keep the hamstrings loose eases the pullin on your pelvis and lower back. Not a cure-all but a definite helper. For the record: Association Football American Football Rugby Football Soccer is a not a real sport :thhbbb:

I returned to swimming 9 years ago mainly for lower back rehab. My experience is this: -Kickboards......BAD! -Freestyle....GOOD provided you keep your head and neck aligned when you breathe (roll, don't lift) -Pull Buoys... not necessary, if you keep your head down, your legs shouldn't drag (kicking or not) -ART and ROLFING....GOOD (hurts but grin and bear it) -Also try to engage the lower abdominals for everything! good luck