Back Soreness

Formula7

Formula7

The Guerilla
Silver Member
I was at my regular spot today shooting by myself after work. My buddy flaked on me (gah! pet peeve :banghead:). Anyhow, I really didn't feel like doing any specific drills today. Work had me tired and any thinking of that type would have wrecked me. So I just kinda rolled all the balls out onto the table and let the cue ball sit somewhere. From there, I began to shoot. No particular order, not just stripes and not just solids, just pure shot making and position play. The one thing I did throw in was resisting the urge to take a completely straight in shot or a ball just sitting in a pocket waiting to be grazed for the score. I'd take those when there was no other choices left on the table.

But I digress. I did this over and over for a good 3 1/2 hrs. My stroke was fantastic tonight. MUCH fewer errors than usual. I had my focus face on and blinders on my eyes so I kinda didn't realize it, but I looked around and about 5-10 people at a time were keeping their eye on me. Lol. It was kinda nice, being that I am breaking into a higher level of play and busting out of my current plateau. Though, I'm sure someone could've walked up and humbled me at any given moment so I shot the pride to the floor and let it cruise as a slight confidence just so that I could keep playing well. If you don't think you'll make it, chances are, you're right. :thumbup: So after about 2 1/2 hours of this um... exercise... I began to feel a bit messy. The problem I realized, once I decided to focus into my body and step back from the table for a minute, was my back. My lower back specifically. The soreness was getting me to be a bit unsettled and start missing shots I was making all night.

My stance differs from time to time depending on where I'm shooting from. I tend to stand square if I'm shooting from the rail (lagging or frozen), and I tend to use the 3pt stance if the cue ball is more inward. I hover really low over my cue, my chin at anywhere between on the cue to 1-3.5 inches over it depending on how close/far the object ball is from the cue ball.

Question is... Is this a normal thing for people? Is it just sort of a muscle building process and pretty soon I'll have a beastly looking back? Or am I asking for slouch when I'm older? If it's the latter, let me know asap. I'd like to fix it before I end up like Quazimoto. Thanks!
 
I'd say be real careful. I'm just a few years older than you, and have been playing for 15 years. 4 months ago my back really started bothering me during pool, when it never did before. One day it got so bad I couldn't move. I turned out it is Sciatica. It sucks, I can play an hour a week now, instead of 10 hrs a day like before.

You might want to go see a chiropractor or a dr, just incase. I've been doing specific back stretches several times a day, and wearing an ice pack, on the advice of the chiropractor. I also see him once a week to adjust my back. Its getting better, but I still can't play more than a couple hours a week before it hurts too much.

I think stretching could be good preventative technique for all pool players.
 
Definitely start doing some stretching. Not just for pool, but for life in general.

Is the search function working on the new forums yet? If it is (or wait til it is), do some searches on "stretching" "stretches" "back pain" - this subject has come up a few times in the past.
 
Might be all that bending down and getting back up again if you have a stance similar to a snooker one. If possible, try bending your knees a little instead of bending down to get that lower position.
 
A lot of back pain sufferers will probably tell you the same thing- their back will hurt too much to play for a couple of days, then it will feel good so you play a lot and you wake up the next day in pain again.

It sucks.

I've given up on chiropractic. Most doctors and physical therapists will tell you do exercises that tighten up you stomach muscles and do some stretching.
 
Back pain isn't one size fits all. There are all sorts of reasons for back pain. Did the Quack, er I mean doctor take x-rays before he started working on you? If not....ruuuuuun.

In my case the back pain was from being 40 lbs overweight and a computer potato. Once I gave up smoking, drinking, and lost the weight so I could get off my ass and play pool again. The first two weeks playing brought out sorness all over my body after just an hour playing. But little by little I extended my playing time to 2 hours in the morning and 4+ hours in the afternoon and evening. I don't have any back pain now at all.

But if there is something seriously wrong with your back, go see an Ortho Doctor or go to a sports clinic. A doctor that has no clue or is just interested in milking you for a treatment a week in very dangerous. Johnnyt
 
Think about what you did. You played alone for 3 1/2 hours. Did you take a break and rest? When playing against someone you will usually get a short break every few minutes.

In this situation you were constantly bending over. Think of standing in place and constantly bending over at your waist for that amount of time. You were also shooting at random balls so you were not walking around the table thinking about your strategy.

You overworked you back muscles.

There is a ying and yang for muscles. Since you have worked your back muscles for 3 1/2 hours you will now have to balance that with working your abs. You will now have to do crunches for 3 1/2 hours.:ok:
 
iusedtoberich said:
I'd say be real careful. I'm just a few years older than you, and have been playing for 15 years. 4 months ago my back really started bothering me during pool, when it never did before. One day it got so bad I couldn't move. I turned out it is Sciatica. It sucks, I can play an hour a week now, instead of 10 hrs a day like before.

You might want to go see a chiropractor or a dr, just incase. I've been doing specific back stretches several times a day, and wearing an ice pack, on the advice of the chiropractor. I also see him once a week to adjust my back. Its getting better, but I still can't play more than a couple hours a week before it hurts too much.

I think stretching could be good preventative technique for all pool players.
Click to expand...

You should look into that further.... I have sciatica as well as 2 slipped disks and a pinched nerve, I still play pool for almost 12 hours a week, I just had to build up to it. Don't let Sciatica stop you!! Mine has gotten BETTER since I've been playing pool more often.

Because of my back injury and the mystery it posed for doctors for a while, I've learned a LOT about the spine and how it works, if you PM me I can get a little more personal with you both regarding weight, height, how long you play, type of shoes etc. and help you plan a regimen that will get you being able to shoot pool for as long as you like. I'm not a doctor, just someone who's been dealing with a VERY bad back for the last 5 years, so with nurses and physical therapists in my family and in my weekly visits to doctors, I've picked up some things along the way.
 
Well, i guess the first question i would ask, is, Is 3 1/2 hours not the normal for you, and if not, what is your normal routine?

If it is not the normal, i think the soreness you experienced is probably due to just overdoing it that day.

Since before Christmas, till now, i have played pool exactly 7 times.

3 sessions ago, i went in, and actually had the time to practice for a decent amount of time, and the next day, my back and shoulder were tender.

It was simply because i hadn't really gone off the deep end practiced hardcore for a while, and those muscles were not used to the workout. Same way you'd be sore if you never went to the gym, but had just started.

That back pain went away.

BUT, i have had battles with back issues before, most specifically, i remember a time when i was playing the best pool of my life. Unfortunately, the reason i was playing so good was my stance, and having my cheek LOCKED against my shoulder in a particular way.
That position let to me playing way straighter then i ever had before.

But

My neck, upper AND lower back were all sorts of messed up during that time.
Add to that, that my lifestyle away from pool didn't take away from my back being over exerted.

It took quite some time of my own personal rehab regime to work through it and to still try to play pool during that time and needless to say, i don't use that position while shooting anymore.

It is different for everyone, but i would most definitely recommend some type of exercise, and most definitely, a hot tub, or sauna or steam room to relax in.

If you notice that it's not only after long sessions, but more of a chronic issue that seems to be present all the time, and gets aggravated by your pool sessions, THEN worry.
But some preventative measures couldn't hurt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top