Swimming vs Gym

maggz

Hi,

I have a regular routine in the gym where I do various work outs, like running on the threadmill, weights, cross trainer, rowing etc.
The problem is I have terrible back problems and even though I am doing things the correct way, they make my back worse then it is.
I have started swimming and not doing as much in the gym, but am I getting the same amount of excercise??? I'm not the strongest of swimmers... would i literally need to be doing at 100 lengths to be getting the same workout as an hour in the gym???

Any ideas??

maggz

hunnymonster

if something hurts my advice would be to get it checked by a professional before deciding what exercise is appropiate for you.

maggz

I have gotten it checked by loads of professionals, but i'm never too happy with the advice. Also Ive been told that the excercises in the the gym that Im doing are ok for me, but I know myself that they hurt.
Swimming really helps me though, but i guess i just want to know if swimming is really as effective as going to the gym.

hunnymonster

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by effective?

Steyr

Swimming is the best exercise man i used to be 18 stone but am down to 11.5 stone due to swimming for 6days a week for 1.5 hours a day ( it took me 6 months ), its excellent Cardio too. If you wanna look lean and trim and tones you up then swimming is the way to go and its more fun than being in a Gym.

BossArky

If you have back pain it could be down to a muscle imbalance. Try some extra pulling exercises such as bent over row, seated row or deadlifts.

OP, I'm like you... not the greatest technique swimming and perfer to run or hit the weights to make the max use of time.

Diamondmaker

A poor swimmer will have to work much harder to feel fulfilled in a pool than on a treadmill. You are likely working every bit as hard and harder so its going to be raising heart rate and burnng calories.

Saying that, swimmin IS great and recommneded by any back consultant ( physio-chiro-osteo-GP ) I have ever seen about my dodgy back.

I swim severak days a week , it helps decompress the spine and the pressures in it from the day as it is under stress all day from being seated, driving, standing etc..

( you are shorter at the end of the day than when you wake up )

maggz

I think i'm just fit for the scrap heap. If its not my back, its my neck, if its not my neck, its my shoulder.

hunnymonster - i mean effective as in toning, weight loss, general fitness etc. all over really

Diamondmaker

maggz wrote:

I think i'm just fit for the scrap heap. If its not my back, its my neck, if its not my neck, its my shoulder.

hunnymonster - i mean effective as in toning, weight loss, general fitness etc. all over really

I have a routine of stretches from a NZ rugby back ground guy call MacKenzie, I also went thro a routine of traction. Day to day stretching and avoiding sitting when possible has really helped my back. I feel very good these days.
Have any of the consultants you saw given you strtches to do and more importantly do you do them every day and night?

I have found HUGE help inactively looking after my self again.

maggz

Diamondmaker wrote:

Have any of the consultants you saw given you strtches to do and more importantly do you do them every day and night?

I did get stretches to do by one back guy. But i havent done them -
And now i forget them... I really should, i know....

Money Shot

maggz wrote:

I think i'm just fit for the scrap heap. If its not my back, its my neck, if its not my neck, its my shoulder.

hunnymonster - i mean effective as in toning, weight loss, general fitness etc. all over really

Swimming is great exercise, and in my opinion can effectively subsitute gym if you are feeling sore. Swimming in non impact, works upper, lower body and provides great cardio. You will get it much better and be more effective if you swap swimming for the gym and do it regularly. I know people who have lost loads of weight from swimming alone.
I would say it is probably the best form of exercise for someone with a dodgy back, especially if doing weights actually agrivates it. You should cease doing any exercise that aggrevates it. You need to consider your overall health and what is best for your back long term. Besides, you're not going to enjoy doing weights if your in pain.
Try swimming for a while and concentrate on that. After a month or two, maybe start incorporating one day a week in the gym and build from there. If there is no difference, you should see a doctor.

BendiBus

And take a few swiming lessons. A good technique will make the most of your exercise and reduce the likelyhood of straining or twisting your back. It also makes swimming much more enjoyable if you can do it properly.

I used to have a very bad back but after a couple of years of swimming it's little more than a bad memory.

maggz

Thanks for all the pointers. yea i think i will ease up on the gym for a while and see how I go with the swimming for a couple of months.

Reyman

BossArky wrote:

If you have back pain it could be down to a muscle imbalance. Try some extra pulling exercises such as bent over row, seated row or deadlifts.

.

Careful of this advice! I'm not sure that bent over rowing and dead lifts are ideal exercises if you have a dodgy back. I'd definitely be very careful; on those two, or go very slowly on them

Hanley

Reyman wrote:

Careful of this advice! I'm not sure that bent over rowing and dead lifts are ideal exercises if you have a dodgy back. I'd definitely be very careful; on those two, or go very slowly on them

Agreed.

From my limited experience, most back problems come from imbalances and incorrect firing patterns in the posterior chain. I know once I started to learn how to control my glutes, and get some flexibility in my hips, my back problems disappeared.

Diamondmaker

maggz wrote:

I did get stretches to do by one back guy. But i havent done them -
And now i forget them... I really should, i know....

I think we could have somethng here;)

I spend as much time as poss stretching every day after work and before after work outs. If I am stuck in the office for a few days and commuting and dont get around to my stretches ( pure bone idle goddam laziness ) I feel terrible after a while.

All a physio really does is manipulate you in a way for half an hour that you could do alone and you should be continuing these movements your self to get any benefit.