I’ve been learning to freestyle since last June. I’ve done ok with it, but still feel like there is a lot of drag. A swim coach watched me this am and said my head was perfect and my feet were fine. She commented that it was the middle that is sinking somewhat, not bad mind you, but defiantly not aligned. She commented on my low back. And a light came on.
Several years ago, I injured my low back picking up a patient wrongly. Afterward, I adjusted my life to where I simply do not really USE my lower back. I do core exercises a lot for my ab and obliques. Lifting is done only with my legs. So, I have completely stopped using my lower back. The neurologist said I had lost the elasticity in my lower back and that if I learn how to compensate for it, I should do fine. I have a “Stiff” lower back now.
This is probably compounded by my body build. I am 6’3” 225, VERY wide shoulders and most of my body fat is stored above the waist. I’m pretty muscular thru my soulders and back. Put simply, I’m the upside down triangle with not a lot of butt in my trunks either. In addition, I have a rounded upper back from basic genetics. (My God, I sound like I look like Shrek, but I swear I don’t LOL)
My body is not aligned standing up. I stand straight, and have pretty good abs/obliques but they protect my lower back.
So in the water, a buddy said after watching me underwater, he says my head is good and my feet are good. But my middle is sagging. I struggle to keep myself afloat facedown. If I kick harder, I get winded after a lap or so, but it keeps me up.To feel my butt up outta the water, I am basically standing on my head (not swimming downhill) and when I try to correct it by raising my head, my butt goes back down.
My arm form is good really, but I feel so much resistance from my middle body sagging. I’ve swam long enough now to know some things and I know that I should be able to swim more without getting winded. I feel sooo much drag. Hard to explain, but I “feel” it. I feel like I’m PULLLING something down the pool, not swimming really. This has gotten worse maybe since I’ve been trying to swim with my head flat.
Enough whining now, I wanted to see if any of you had maybe similar issues and how you overcome low back problems. Do you compensate by slowly strengthening you lower back?/ Do you just suck it up and get massive pecs to pull the swayback down the pool?? Do you strengthen your kick. Get awesome legs to get the swayback down the pool??
I’m not giving up, I’m going to find the right way.
Thanks
Mark
Former Member
Mark
I suffer from disc issues but nothing like the issue you described, and thankfully swimming has strengthened my back and abs... so I manage better--I even compete fairly aggressively too.
I would think trying to work on lower back flexibility while still maintaing strong abs and obs would be a good start. Is that a possiblity for you or is there something medical going on that has eliminated the flexibility, and not just your protective adaptations?
Rich
Former Member
I guess it's a lil of both. The initial injury has caused me to adapt.
....... She commented that it was the middle that is sinking somewhat,.............. Afterward, I adjusted my life to where I simply do not really USE my lower back.
thus compensating and guarding, resulting in an even weaker lower back
I do core exercises a lot for my ab and obliques. Lifting is done only with my legs. So, I have completely stopped using my lower back. The neurologist said I had lost the elasticity in my lower back and that if I learn how to compensate for it, I should do fine. I have a “Stiff” lower back now.
.......... In addition, I have a rounded upper back from basic genetics. ...
My body is not aligned standing up. I stand straight, and have pretty good abs/obliques but they protect my lower back.
............... my middle is sagging.
.......... had maybe similar issues and how you overcome low back problems. Do you compensate by slowly strengthening you lower back?
Hi Mark,
Sounds to me like you have more than a bit of Lordosis (as do I); you did mention the term "swayback" which is what Lordosis is. No, I'm not a physician but suffered enough from sciatica and an incapacitating thrown-strained lower back when an elderly gentleman I was helping carry his chaise-longue at the pool suddenly dropped his end and that was a heavy piece of furniture, that I had to see a Chiropractor who has done wonders for me. (She's also very cute and attractive which helps a lot).
I'd suggest you see a Chiro.
I also worked a lot on my abs (to protect my lower back ......... aside from looking good at the pool) but that doesn't mean leaving the protection job all to the abs. Strengthening and lengthening ---via stretching after warming-up--- the lower back muscles would be recommended by your Chiro, I'm sure.
Good luck
P.S. I'm 5'7".5 (but taller than my Chiro) and weigh 150 (no, not kgs) so I guess my "burden" is a bit lighter.
Former Member
The lower back, when I was teachig a group of young basketball players the finer arts of the game I played a five minute segment of the game with them. When I was jumping for the ball I ended up on the floor and I could not get up.
Chuckie had just had our 5th child and I had been helping with the diaper changes etc. When I bent over I could not stand up, I would put my hands on the wall and move my hands against the wall to straighten up. I still have these pains in my lower back and that happened 45 years ago.
When Chuckie presses on my lower back gently even now I hear the click, click, click, of my vertabrae moving back into place.
