Question
I'm a 50 year old man, and I've been working out at a gym, for the first time in my life, for about the last 8 months. In addition to weight training 2 or 3 times a week, I've been spending 35-45 minutes on an elliptical trainer around 6 days each week without any problems. A week and a half ago, I developed lower back pain. I skipped the next day of working out. Upon returning, thinking the cause might have been abdominal crunches, I stopped doing them. The back pain went away in about 3 days. A few days ago, it returned but much worse. I now believe the cause is my elliptical training. Is it a logical conclusion that intense daily workouts on an elliptical trainer could be the cause of my recent lower back pain? If so, do I need to stand any particular way to protect my lower back while on the elliptical, and should I be doing stretches of any sort prior to the workout? Thank you.

Answer
Dear Jonathan,

Your assessment is reasonable, but without an examination, the abdominal exercises or the elliptical machine could be the source of the problem. However, if you had been doing these things for more than 8 months and had no difficulty, then other avenues need to be explored as well.  Is there an underlying issue that is the source of the problem which is completely unrelated to the training....are you training with poor posture...or have you just reached the stages in training where the stress is too much for your back??  All questions to be addressed.

I would recommend stretching for an increase in flexibility of the hamstrings, quadriceps, iliotibial band, and erector spinae musculature of the low back...this may be enough to actually abate the pain.  But if stretching protocols do not help, or the pain is sharp, I would recommend that you have the tissue functionally examined to find the source.  This is often easier than you think to pinpoint the anatomical cause and address it...these issues arise in my clinical practice all the time.  The lumbar and sacroiliac joints can be the source of pain which is easily remedied with spinal manipulation.

Hope this helps Jonathan.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net