Different feet position or stance for chronic back and hip pain?

R

Rjmoncrief

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Has anybody that suffers from lower back and Hip pain tried any different, maybe even subtle changes in their feet position or stance to help with this pain? Feet closer together, standing at more of a side position, etc. I stretch everyday for my lower back and hip pain and it helps some but after about 3-4 hours of play I'm about done! I've never played with my chin on the stick like some. My head position is about 8-10 inches above the stick. I'm not comfortable when its higher. Any input will be appreciated.
Thanks.....:thumbup:
 
Rjmoncrief said:
Has anybody that suffers from lower back and Hip pain tried any different, maybe even subtle changes in their feet position or stance to help with this pain? Feet closer together, standing at more of a side position, etc. I stretch everyday for my lower back and hip pain and it helps some but after about 3-4 hours of play I'm about done! I've never played with my chin on the stick like some. My head position is about 8-10 inches above the stick. I'm not comfortable when its higher. Any input will be appreciated.
Thanks.....:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Bend your knees. Youll have sore quads until you get used to it, but it takes a lot of pressure off the lower back.
Chuck
 
Funny you should start a thread on this topic. I had a previous back op many years ago.

I was recently re injured in a MVA in 2012 and was waiting approx 18 months to get into physio rehab.

I finished off week 5 today. Last night I was playing Scotch with my wife and realized that my stance was off compared to how I usually stand. I was doing some goofy adjusting and even a snooker players stance for some shots. The stances weren't exactly pretty or normal, but at least they were somewhat comfortable to get into.

I think that its something that you will have to play around with yourself based on your injury and see what is comfortable for you and not. If you move the wrong way while bending over, it will let you know real quick, right.

I have sciatic pain and nerve damage in my right leg. If I stand for too long, my leg goes numb, (just like my head), and it feels like someone is going up and down with a blow torch.

I found that I was compensating in my stance so I wouldn't pinch anything.

It was fairly awkward for some shots but I managed to get down and do them.

I think that the Snooker stance is fairly comfy in most cases when you can use it for some or most shots. Your legs are further apart and may allow you to bend forward a bit more.
 
I was in a MVA in May of '13. Screwed up my stroke wrist and my back pretty bad. I go to physio, chiro, and acupuncture to straighten myself out when my back gets bad. Mine is my lower left back, my preshot routine involves me stepping up to the shot so my forward foot is pointing at the object pocket (if applicable), then stepping back onto my rear foot. I find it helps all aspects of my game.

When my back is ****ed, it's ****ed though.
 
Thinking back on last night, I probably missed a few shots because of being a bit wobbly in my stance. I will have to take more note of this next week and try to improvise a bit better.
 
Chuck Fields said:
Bend your knees. Youll have sore quads until you get used to it, but it takes a lot of pressure off the lower back.
Chuck
Click to expand...
Chuck has it right. I've had 4 back surgeries and still have low back problems. Bending both knees 'lowers' your body down to the table rather than 'bending' down. Snooker stance works that way as does standing a little more sideways. The thing to watch out for is...make sure your angles are str8....shoulder, elbow forearm wrist hand remain all in ine for a str8 back - str8 thru stroke. Try doing vids to make sure all angles are good.
Also, make sure you're comfortable. Cant play long if you're not.
Good luck.
 
Good points Slinger. I will have to keep tabs on this thread. I have been out for the afternoon previously and got myself to the point of having to use the table for support when walking around it.

Better to be out trying to play pool than sitting at home being miserable anyway

4 surgeries, wow, I can't imagine. Just one for me and waiting for a Cat Scan as I can no longer have an MRI. A Scan may show up something but hope that the next step isn't a
Fusion or something. Waiting time in Canada plus rehab time after. Its a long row to how
so have my fingers crossed that I won't have to do it again.

So far after week 5 of Physio, I feel that I have regressed with zero improvement.

Sorry, didn't mean to talk about me. This thread will be useful for my game too.
 
I am a veteran who broke some vertebrae in my spine while active. When this happened, the trauma to my back triggered a gene I carried and I have a condition known as Ankylosing Spondylitis. It is a progressive fusing of the spinal vertebrae. It has caused my fundamentals I learned and used back in the 90's to be completely altered.

I have kept my focus on my stroke. All of my adjustments have been made with care given to keeping my stroke in line and as smooth as possible. I can no longer bend my neck, nor turn it side to side. This is my biggest issue. I have adjusted my stance by bending my knees more to help compensate for the loss of vision due to an immobile neck. This not only relieves some pressure off of my lower back, but it allows me to 'sit back' a little more in my stance and still see up table. I have also had to adjust my feet position to a more of a straight forward stance as opposed to the more fundamentally correct angled position, due also to a lack of being able to turn my head and keep it directly in line with the cue. I have made slight adjustments to my grip and bridge, something that I think will be different from individual to individual. The bent knees were a big adjustment strength wise and I suggest you build up your endurance by finding a time limit that you can play without 'fatiguing' your legs. Then up your play sessions by a half hour or so once a week until you can play for length of time you desire without losing focus due to muscular fatigue in the legs.

All of the above changes have taken a toll on my once proud game, but I still play decent enough and more than anything, get to simply continue playing the sport I love so very much. On top of that my daughter has recently taken up the game and whenever my playing days come to end, now I can look forward to watching her play and hopefully enjoy the game as much as I have. Whatever direction your health takes your game in, I wish you the very best and I hope you can find ways to enjoy it. It's just an incredible sport that has become many a player's passion. Keep yours alive by not giving up and keep looking for whatever it takes to continue on.

Nullus
 
Years back, i was setting up a reloading bench, had ordered a bunch of stuff from Midway and planned a vacation week with the delivery time. Middle of winter in rural Alaska. Stuff shows up on Friday, i pick it up on the way home from work, all happy that I have a week to set up and make some ammo. Get home park in my spot, wet ice under my feet when I get out. After living with ice for some time you get used to it, and you lose cautiousness. I lean in the truck and stack 2 of the boxes full of brass and lead. Probably 175-200 lbs worth. Im a big guy to begin with, so when I stand up with the boxes in my arms, my feet go out from under me and I go straight down with an added 200 lbs straight on my tailbone. Knocked the breath out of me, and sent a shockwave of pain up my spine I never though possible. I toss the boxes off my lap and try to get up again, boom down on the tailbone again. Made it in the house and called the wife at work, she asked if she should come home and take me to the doctor, I say no. Gonna take a hot shower and relax. Week goes by, Im still in no shape to go back to work, call the boss and take another week off. Same thing, but after two weeks. I figure its time to go to the hospital. Ruptured two discs. They are telling me I should go to Anchorage and see a specialist. The recommended treatment was fusion surgery. Well...... Im a chicken when it comes to surgery, so yeah...... that never happened....... Lol. Did some physical therapy and lived on pain meds for a long time. Finally said fvck it, and dropped the meds.
Almost 20 years later, its gotten to the point I can only play for 3-5 hours, but have to go home and sit on an ice pack the rest of the night and kill the liver with Motrin.
Chuck
 
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