On Friday, July 25, 1997 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, Robert Taylor wrote:

Please remove "sansspam" from return address to reply by e-mail

Dear all,

I've just started training, and the twice-weekly class involves
stretching alone and with a partner, followed by syllabus work, followed
by a warm-down.

I'm starting to get an ache in my lower back, and I'm told this is
because the kicks strain that area and that it will strengthen up.

However, at least one other guy there who has been doing it for 2
years now claims he _still_ has lower back pain.

This has got me pretty worried... is this bad form? Bad stretching?
Or is it really something that is inevitable when you start doing things
you haven't done before, and it will pass?

Otherwise I don't ache hardly at all, and since I was active before
starting and stretching most days anyway. One of the assisted stretches
was to sit on the floor, legs apart and straight, toes up in the air.

Then a partner pushes your back down towards the floor (forwards between
your legs) - as far as I can see this has to stretch the lower back and
could damage the spine... shouldn't we be keeping our backs straight?

Is it necessary to stretch the muscles of the lower back and if so what
is the safest way to do it?

Robert

I am having the same experience. I started at ilovekickboxing.com and my lower back is sore. What's concerning is it doesn't seem like sore muscles. Also, before I started at this place, I was an avid yoga, pilates and various other core strengthening
classes attendee. I think my back is the strongest part of my body so that would negate all the diagnosis that it's "from a weak back." We do stretches every class like figure 4 stretches, front splits, side splits, all kinds of things where we reach
for our toes, however I did deeper, more intense stretches in other classes which lead me to believe it's not the stretching. I agree that it might be the kicking, I think it might be the roundhouses in particular that might be causing this issue. I
would like it if another kick boxer with lower back issues would weigh in. No need to comment if your advise is to see a doctor, everyone else has said that enough. I am considering going to my general practitioner but it would be nice to hear from
others that are having this issue.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)