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[–] 1 point 1 year ago

Yoga and strength training help quite a bit, but I always found the biggest help was to sleep well. I found sleeping in a hammock basically got rid of any lower back pain, but I'm sure a good bed will help as well.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Not quite there yet. I’m thin and pretty active. But I take a lot of beatings and my bones just…fucking ache.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    I was there at 16

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago
    [–] 87 points 1 year ago (37 children)

    I'm personally convinced that the cause of back problems is sitting way to much.

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  • [–] 66 points 1 year ago* (22 children)

    That’s one aspect of it but the main cause is weakness of the lower back muscles. This is in the case of office workers, if you have a manual job the causes could be many. But all of the causes can be addressed to a certain degree with deadlifts to strengthen to lower back muscles. But people don’t want to lift weights so πŸ€·πŸ½β€β™‚οΈ

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  • [–] 56 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    There are plenty of body weight exercises like squats and lunges that can strengthen the back. I think more than weights, people simply don't like to do targeted exercises.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    Running also strengthens the back

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

    Truth.

    I do what I call the morning dump before runs now, squats + good mornings and then a 5k, my sore back is because I made it sore and it’s a good sore.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    Dude, I picked up biking last season and on Monday I biked a new personal best of 12 very hilly miles without a rest. I decided literally the night before to join a local 4th of July 5k without any training (literally said "I can bike 12 miles, what's running 3? Those are similar enough muscles!" and I've been riding the high since because my leg muscles are still all sore and tight in all of the wonderful "I pushed my limits and achieved something!" kind of ways that make me feel so alive!

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    squat and deadlift are key to success. Really, anything that develops your posterior chain is a healthy bet

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Squats, deadlifts and good mornings are the key to a back you made sore and strong instead of a hurt back,

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  • [+] 3 points 1 year ago* (2 children)
  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago* (6 children)

    Can't it be addressed with any regular, properly practiced sport, which many people don't do over 30? Lifting seems like effort without the fun of a game.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    It is certainly 1000 times better than doing nothing, but even athletes lift weights to complement their training because there’s nothing quite like targeting the muscles directly. But like others have commented running is also good for strengthening the back, so any sports where there’s a lot of running like soccer, football or basketball will help.

    Weightlifting can be a game itself though, at least for me it is. The game is attempting to best my previous numbers every session. Very much a single player game but a game nonetheless.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Unfortunately there is no cheat code or dupe glitch to help me beat lifting, as it is way too difficult. I chose the "physically disabled" trait at birth only to learn that it was the hardmode and no way to revert, and it's pay to win to overcome. 2/10 game

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    Lifting seems like effort without the fun of a game.

    The fun is in learning your muscles, feeling them shift and move as you put new strain on them and ultimately improving. Any metric you can track for improvement gives you a big source of pride when you hit a new milestone. Maybe it's more reps. Maybe it's a bigger weight with the same number of reps. Maybe it's a new more difficult exercise you can do. Maybe you're aiming to join a local competition. There's always a goal to work towards and you can watch your body get better as you work on it. There's incredible magic in knowing the control you have over your body's shape, and suddenly being able to join in races or competitions that you might have used to be annoyed by how they get in your way.

    I've gone big into biking. I started out struggling to make it around the block (which includes a big hill because where I live there really isn't any flat surfaces to bike on) and last week I hit 12 miles in one go, and that's including quite a few hills, some I powered up standing on the pedals, and some I powered through going as slowly as I needed and just continuing to pedal and push through. Every week or two I can achieve a new best for the season or even a new personal best, and that's just tracking distance. I could instead focus on increasing my average speed. Or I could download an app where I race other people on the same route in virtual time trials.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    This is why I never sit down. Not even to poop. I just stand above the toilet, and hope it goes in.

    Sometimes it does!

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    My dad and brother had back problems and they were brick layers and then janitors. Only sat at breaktime.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Adults don't know how to bend and squat properly. Watch people and you'll see that practically everybody bends at their back anytime they're reaching down.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago*

    The human body wasn't designed to sit all day. We're walkers. Best to appreciate a job that keeps you moving. Haven't had back problems since I started doing manual labor. Before that, there were days I couldn't tie my shoes.

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  • [–] 41 points 1 year ago (6 children)

    100% encourage anyone past 30 to start working on your core strength, a sore back can frequently be caused by a weak core. I only take started focusing on that when I turned 40 and it's made a huge difference! Just a few minutes a day or every couple of days is all it takes. Get a kettlebell, do 30 swings, then a 1-2 minute plank, then 30 more swings and you're done. It will really help with the back pain, believe me!

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  • [–] 11 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    What exactly is a swing? Cause I just imagine spinning in circles letting it go and destroying my TV. I assume back and forth? Or in front of me? Over my head? 90 degrees?

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  • [–] 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    If you have 60 spare TVs to break everyday, that works out perfectly. Otherwise, I recommend watching this tutorial:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSxHifyI6s8

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  • [–] 39 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    I mean this in all positivity. Move around and lose weight if you're sporting it. I'm over 40 and I'm in better shape than I was in my 20s because I move around a lot (owning a farm helps) but it's no excuse to not move if you don't. Stop being sedentary. Move and eat less. You will be surprised how little it takes to feel good again.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    I eat twice a day, I never stop moving.

    I would say I’m doing better than most people at 40 if I hadn’t smoked since I was 10.

    I have something wrong with some nerves in my back though. Shit tingles to an annoying level if I carry my kids around.

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    OK well my counter story is that I move a lot for work too and I'm only slightly overweight but my upper back feels like it's going to break in half when I wake up in the mornings, and my lower back tingles like a 9 volt battery to the tongue just always. 32 yo.

    I guess just do whatever and maybe your back will feel fine and maybe it won't. Just like all health advice.

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  • [–] 60 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    Strength training helps, a lot.

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  • [+] 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)
  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 child)

    100%

    The reason that bowflex dude was 42 and in the best shape of his life was because at 42 it was the first time he needed to be.

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  • [–] 18 points 1 year ago (3 children)
  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

    Yoga & lifting but mostly yoga. I got in a pretty bad car accident 10 years ago and did not get hurt, I mean got banged up but my back did not get hurt at all. Everyone told me "just wait" but that shoe never dropped, and I'm sure it's the yoga. Fell on my ass the other day (enthusiastic dog knocked my feet out from under me on a slippery surface) and didn't get hurt, and I'm old enough one of the questions the doctor asks is "any falls lately"

    Move it in every direction, strengthen all those little muscles and yes, core but not just abs, every side of your core. Bodies are use it or lose it systems.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    I feel you there. I’m in my 40s and have never been super healthy, but I have at least tried to take care of my joints.

    Now, this year, my hobbies have had me doing manual labor like construction and landscaping in my yard. This is the strongest I’ve felt in a long time, and when slipping in a muddy yard or tripping over a toy or dog I seem to have the reflexes and supporting muscles to always catch myself without getting hurt. It’s been excellent for my mental health too.

    In my 20s and 30s I mostly just wanted to be my recluse nerd gamer self (with my partner who I met at 19 by sheer dumb luck) but now after actively working for years to figure out wtf is wrong with me and how to get better results out of this body and brain I’ve been given… yeah it’s no surprise but things like fresh air and other people and petting an animal are all good shit!

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  • [–] 17 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I started doing pilates a few tears ago. I hate it, but really, 15 minutes a week make a huge difference for my back. All it takes is a yoga mat and some pilates instructor lady on YouTube. Curtains is recommended since even if you get good at it you're gonna look ridiculous.

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  • [–] 16 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Other comments mentioned squats and deadlifts but the upper back is important too. Pullups and especially dead hangs are great for countering the effects of sitting at a desk.

    Once you get your grip strength up you can hang and just let your spine decompress. It feels great. You can also do the opposite and keep your core engaged (AKA hollow hold) to build strength.

    I played sports growing up but never had a strong core until I did this in my 30s. It was kind of shocking because I could suddenly do things like V ups with ease which used to make me shake uncontrollably.

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  • [+] 14 points 1 year ago (6 children)
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Got sciatica a few years ago, it was sudden and excruciating. Luckily it went away by itself, and so far it hasn't come back.

    I couldn't even lift my foot 10cm

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  • [+] 12 points 1 year ago (1 child)
  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago

    Not medical advice, but I got used to wearing shoes indoors after years of office work, but taking off my shoes when indoors and actually using all my muscles to hold myself upright, has lead to a real reduction in discomfort.

    If you're used to shoes all the time, it HURTS at first to go without and you have to take frequent sit/stand breaks. This is GOOD and you should listen to your body and continue moving in ways that make you feel better.

    Your point just reminded me that if you're capable, that one of the simplest mediations you can do is work with your muscles to keep yourself straight.

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Lol, at 46 my heart said 'nah man, let's just stop'. 🀷

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    If I ever actually have a heart attack, I'm not sure if I would think it's a heart attack or a panic attack simply because the first time I ever had a debilitating panic attack, it felt like the way everyone I've known to have a heart attack described them (hard to breath, intense chest pains, left srm went numb, etc) and called an ambulance just to find out it was anxiety.

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago

    Same thing happened to me recently. Super fun loop.

    1. Have panic attack
    2. Symptoms mimic heart attack
    3. Panic more
    4. Mimics heart attack harder
    5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until EKG, X-ray, and blood test come back clear, and doc gives benzos.

    At least now I know it's a panic attack so it doesn't feed itself as aggressively.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago*

    It's easy to miss but I didn't say heart attack. My heart stopped beating and I stopped breathing. Never experienced any of the typical symptoms, non smoker and drinker. I literally dropped dead and was lucky that everything afterwards went well (aside from the trauma inducing situation of course).

    The cause is unknown to this day.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago (7 children)

    If I sit on the couch playing vidya games for 2 hours, my back hurts for 2 days.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    The gamer in me says to set a timer and stop playing at 1:59.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Better ergs? More pillows? Shorter sessions?

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    I was born with my spine on the outside. I have felt this way my whole life!

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  • [–] 13 points 1 year ago

    I used to think this, until I started going to the gym.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago

    I'm literally scrolling my phone while side stretching because my back hurts just from a4 hour sitting shift rooofl πŸ’€

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  • As this thread shows, back pain isn't caused by just one thing, so each specific person's back pain won't be cured by the same one size fits all approach.

    If your back pain is caused by poor posture exacerbated by a weak posterior chain, lifting weights at the gym or doing other strengthening exercises/physical therapy can be helpful. As plenty in this thread can attest, gym time to offset laptop time can go a long way.

    If your back pain is caused by repetitive stress from physical labor, adhering to proper form/technique and rest/recovery cycles to the best of your ability can help.

    If your back pain is exacerbated by the weight you carry, losing weight (or in certain circumstances, breast reduction surgery) can help.

    We're all just trying to get through life. Sometimes other people's tips can help, so it's worth sharing, but we also shouldn't get too tied to a particular solution that worked for us, as a the solution for everyone else.

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  • It's not so much that your spine is old at 30. it's more that our body is not really adjusted to our fucking modern lifestyle. and also it seems to me, a lot of backpain is psychological. i.e., anxiety and stuff leads to lower back pain and such.

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  • [+] 4 points 1 year ago* (3 children)
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    You'll always feel old, and you'll always look back at yourself a decade prior and marvel at what a fool you were for feeling old back then when you were really so, so young. This is a universal experience.

    I didn't really get going on anything until my mid 30s. I just cleaned floors and answered phones. Ended up meeting another late bloomer. We both graduated from mid college programs at the end of our 30s, and now we're both limping through our "careers" in our 40s.

    Yeah it might have been better if we started earlier but we didn't. And I sure as fuck look back at myself at 30 thinking how even with 000 to show for it I was still young and full of future, even if I felt like an ancient loser.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I have stuff, a job, kids, a wife, and all that and i’m still a miserable loser. Enjoying life is a thing you have to chose to do in spite of your circumstances, rather than because of them.

    For further reference, see Elon Musk: the dude literally has it all and i catch myself genuinely feeling sorry for how pathetic he is from time to time, that man couldn’t enjoy life even if he had literally everything

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