Question
For about a year Ive had a 'bad' back, but I'm only 21, Ive played rugby since I was 8 and have probably in the past trained way too hard trying to get fit as quick as possible to be able to play rugby (by training I mean cardio and heavy weights aswell as actual rugby training).  All this might have contributed to it as I cant actually pick out an actual injury which might have caused it.  The pain itself feel more like muscle stiffness as movement eventually seems to ease the pain, as does deep heat muscle rub.  For example if Ive been standing for a while sitting down hurts, and vice-versa, also sometimes I find straightening my back painfull.  Doing light stretches seem to help, they're painfull at first but the pain goes eventually.  Is theyre anything I can do to stop the pain completely or am I going to be doing physiotherapy stretches and exercises everyday for the rest of my life?

Answer
Mike,

I agree with you:  your pain sounds muscular.  It sounds like you made yourself musclebound.

You can stop the pain by adding this dimension to your training:  control over muscular relaxation.  Without it, control over strength is only half the equation and you're likely to remain musclebound, stiff and sore.

Please see the article, Pain Relief through Movement Education, at somatics.com/page4.htm.  It addresses your question directly.

See also, Getting Control of Your Own Muscular Tension -- Beyond Stretching, also at somatics.com/page4.htm.

Actually, you would do yourself a favor by doing somatic exercises every day or so for the rest of your life.  You're 21, now.  As time passes and the effects of injuries and stress accumulate, you'll get stiffer and stiffer, unless you do something to improve your muscular control so you outrun the effects of the injuries.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold