Anyone have experience of skiing with ongoing back trouble, good/bad? By this I refer to the classic bulging disc of the lumbar spine which seems to account for most back trouble.
So far nordic skiing seems ok, cyclng with an upright bike seems ok, walking not so good, haven't tried downhill skiing yet. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried it & found it ok or a disaster?
xx b
AndrewKydd
I'm conscious that back problems can be different from person to person, so this may not apply to everyone. Mine is the kind that is perfectly alright most of the time, until it 'goes' in the lumbar area when doing something without due care and attention, like digging (soil or snow) or, curiously, buckling up ski boots. Then I have to coax the supporting muscles to relax via stretches, osteopath visits (last resort), and suitable exercise - the exercise is one of the best things.
Walking is good, provided the terrain isn't too lumpy. Skinning is better as the going is smooth and consistent usually, and kick turns help to stretch muscles in another way. Cycling is also OK, provided not too bent over - in fact my back was never so good as the years when I did frequent long rides. Downhill ski-ing is also very good, something to do with the swinging of the hips, but I'll be cautious about moguls. If my back goes when buckling boots, I would expect it to be largely fixed by the end of a day or two's downhill or uphill, and some stretches. Swimming's another thing that can be good, but being careful of what stroke to use - breast-stroke isn't always helpful. Stacking logs, and continuing to dig, are not good, as you might expect. Neither is sitting down, especially in the car, and it tends to seize up overnight - I once thought I just couldn't get out of bed one morning, there was no-one at home and the phone was across the room....
So that's my personal experience. Hope it's useful,
Andrew