gmm213

So I have had lower back problems since I was younger. One of the reasons I started bicycling was to help the muscles in my back on the advice from my doctor. I have muscle spasms. I was just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for back support while riding? Any particular saddles? Does anyone ride with a back brace? Anything else?

mrtibbs_here

Something not entirely intuitive to try,...stretch the muscles on the front of the thighs. Kneel on one knee and stretch/glide forward, keeping the back straight. You'll feel how to do it as you experiment and find what movement stretches the muscles on the front of the thighs. Then switch knees.

The idea is that our standing is a balancing act and often its the counter-balancing muscles as well as the muscles directly felt to be in pain that cause the spasms.

Carbonfiberboy 

Does the doctor say why it is that you have muscle spasms in your back?

Cycling is good for the back. I would not recommend any back support while cycling. Seems to me that would be counterproductive.

Dave Cutter

I had a bad back for many years. I could have left work on disability due to a lower back injury.... but I didn't. The sedentary lifestyle I settled into while trying to avoid repeated back injuries left me fat and with foot problems by the time I was old enough to retire.

I bought a sit-up-and-beg style used bicycle just to get some fresh air. I loved cycling again... and was soon given a road bike by a friend. The road [style] bike distributes my weight across my contact points... with very little pressure on my lower back.

For me..... road cycling changed my life.

I no longer suffer back problems... to speak of. My health is greatly improved and I feel decades younger than I did a few years ago. Cycling is not a cure-all by any means.... and it does introduce new health risks as well. But I'd take a doctors advice over "people" on the internet any day. If the doctor didn't mention a brace I wouldn't worry about it.

sch

Back brace will almost certainly inhibit your breathing, which may not be a problem on bike trails but for up and down hill road riding you will notice.
A city bike with flat bars will tend to put you more uprite with more weight on the crotch, a road bike, as Dave notes will move you forward a
bit and put more upper body weight on the arms, reducing lower back pressure.

LGHT

I'm in the same boat and yoga / hot yoga really helped my back issues a lot before I started riding recently. My last ride caused a little irritation since I've been out of the saddle for a couple weeks, but nothing a message and a salon pas didn't fix.

A few weeks ago someone posted the same problem and once of the responses had a few good links to exercise sites and exercises to do to help your back and "core". Very good post.

RussB

Bad Back? Well mine has to be about the worst out there. I has 70% of my spine fused together back in 1975. Since I've had a bulging disc in my lower back and I keep pinching my sciatica nerve, making my right knee go numb. With that said. I do some stretching, range of motion at least once a day. Especially before a ride. I also invested my money in a bike that is good for my back. I just put my old 2006 Trek pilot 2.1 s.p.a. up for sale, That bike has a rear shock to help absorb the bumps. I'm in the process of purchasing a NEW Trek Domane 5.2. You should check out the Domane line with IsoSpeed. This feature also helps to absorb the bumps from the road to help protect your back. If you're not into Trek, check out other brands of endurance bikes.

LGHT

Hey have you checked out the new dogma with the rear shock? I noticed several sky riders had them during flanders.. Not sure if it works, but those are the guys to put it to the test one way or the other.

Machka 

1. Make sure your bicycle is set up correctly for you.

2. I find that a saddle that curves up in the back works better for me. A flat saddle leaves me with lower back pain.

gmm213

The doctor thinks its due to my growth so fast when I was younger and the muscles not forming correctly. And the skateboarding, and motor vehicle accidents haven't helped. I am in the process of switching from a flat bar hybrid to a Fuji Feather. A Domane is out of price range at the moment. I will be looking at new saddles and Ill keep your advice in mind Machka. I was offered disability but turned it down. Id get to bored.

Carbonfiberboy 

If it's a muscular issue, then training the muscles should help. This also helps with soft tissue injuries from accidents, etc. After a skiing accident, I bought a copy of Core Advantage and started working through the exercises. It's a great book written by a strength trainer. Fixed me up.

pursuance

Look at the link for Core Advantage in the post above mine. I did, I will, I need to do it, TY CFboy.

I ripped my lower back desert racing m/c back in the '70s.
All my working life was as a diesel mechanic and TENS Units kept me going during the painful times w/o medications and their serious side effects.
I still use my ARISTA 2000 TENS about twice a year and at 68 am considering a ball chair for my time on the comp. Research both.

A new touring bicycle will be bought soon with 35 or 38 tires... plus, a short travel ThudBuster. I've used the long travel ThudBuster for decades, these things really work when one is "caught-out" while day dreaming or riding at night. Consider it money well spent. Research this product.

PM me if you want more. Good luck... if you're heavy, get rid of the weight like I'm doing.

Panza

For what it's worth I'm a certified personal trainer and have a degree in exercise science. In terms of cycling I've only been doing so competitively for 4 or 5 years.

I broke my back at age 16 when a rope swing broke and I landed on a vertical metal pole. My PT and RT has always since then been to train a strong back with muscle to give me extra support. When my back aches (when I'm out of season and being a couch potato) I return to the gym and work on my entire core, not just my back. Shoulders, upper back, lower back, abdominals, obliques, glutes, and hip flexors.

When obtaining a bike fit inform your fit specialist that you have prior back conditions. They generally find a less stressful position for your back. We're not all slinky professionals training for 4 hours a day in that god awful position. Before your rides, try stretching to loosen up those muscles. If you're out of the saddle often, support your torso with your hands over the bars, tighten your core, and keep your back straight. With enough practice you'll engage those muscles naturally and your form will be as smooth as butter. If you're riding for long periods of time, try pressing your shoulder blades together, this activates your back muscles naturally and promotes better posture. May not work for everyone but it does for me. When in doubt, ride in the tops and relax. Enjoy your ride, no need to suffer the wrong way.