Building up Muscles

Dave147

Hello there, new to this forum but recently joined a gym mainly for swimming (back problem) but want to build up my muscles: Back, neck, arms, legs and stomach most importantly.

Was in a car crash over a year ago which left me needing constant physio and has me in pain every day, just wondering could anyone here give me some advice as what best exercises to do in a gym that won't be bad for my back. Had a decent looking body before but as I haven't been active it's quite flabby and getting on my nerves big time!

I have exercises to do at home so can all suggestions be relating to exercises which I can only do at the gym, thanks in advance!

Jimmy Bottlehead

Hi Dave.

Nice one on deciding to get back to the gym
I'd say the safest thing to do is ask your physio what exercises need to be avoided. The best exercises you can do are Squats, Deadlifts, Bench Presses, Rows, and so on. But check with your physio first, just in case.

Dave147

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Hi Dave.

Nice one on deciding to get back to the gym
I'd say the safest thing to do is ask your physio what exercises need to be avoided. The best exercises you can do are Squats, Deadlifts, Bench Presses, Rows, and so on. But check with your physio first, just in case.

I've asked him, he told me to take it easy, especially on my neck, but I want to find out the best way to strengthen my back, I also would like to really strengthen my stomach muscles but find sit ups very difficult (used do 200 a day now struggle to do 10), would swimming be recommended?

Really going to push myself to get extremely fit, my gf is very athletic and has a beautiful body, she goes to the gym very often, so she's my incentive

IronLifter

Swimming tones most of your body as your using many of your muscles.
Swimmers usually have very strong backs so that would deffo work 4 u in strengthening your back.

With other exercises you may want to be careful and ease back into things with the help of a personal trainer. That'd be more benificial as you could discuss various problems you may have and get the right advice.:D

Dave147

Yeah I actually meant to mention I will be getting a personal trainer, just to get myself into a routine for the first few months, but any advice I can get here for free I'll take on board, really looking forward to this, gotta go to bed and do my back exercises now, good fun

Mhmm...weetabix

IronLifter wrote: »

Swimming tones most of your body as your using many of your muscles.
Swimmers usually have very strong backs so that would deffo work 4 u in strengthening your back.

With other exercises you may want to be careful and ease back into things with the help of a personal trainer. That'd be more benificial as you could discuss various problems you may have and get the right advice.:D

Is it just your back or does the pain spread into your neck? Swimming is awesome but there's so much neck muscle used along with everything else it might not be the best idea. Talk to your physio. What actual injuries do you have if you don't mind discussing it?

Dave147

Mhmm...weetabix wrote: »

Is it just your back or does the pain spread into your neck? Swimming is awesome but there's so much neck muscle used along with everything else it might not be the best idea. Talk to your physio. What actual injuries do you have if you don't mind discussing it?

Physio recommended swimming, but everything in moderation, I am on the road to recovery so I need to be doing these exercises to strengthen the muscles, it's getting very depressing not doing anything.

Basically my neck and back are completely f**ked, I was in 2 accidents(neither my fault thank god), second one exacerbated my neck injury, back injury was constant. Had an MRI and an X-Ray last year, both were clear, that was a mixed blessing because I can't figure out what's wrong with me.

If I look down at the ground my neck hurts, along with my upper back. If I turn my head right, left etc. Hard to explain really, it just really gets me down that it's so hard to be active.