Lower back pain and stance

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derangedhermit

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It can't be an uncommon case: an old ruptured disc left a couple vertebrae a little too close together, and sometimes they squeeze a nerve. The straight-leg, straight-back stance of youth is not possible.

Are there common remedies for dealing with back pain while maintaining decent form? It seems that standing more sideways and inside the line and letting the front knee bend a good bit helps, while still letting one get one's head down over the shot - but that's just from trial-and-error.
 
I've got a bad back...lower lumbar injury from years ago finally catching up with me. Don't think I've got your exact problem, but a straight legged stance is virtually impossible. I bend both legs (kind of like Earl Strickland does in his stance). It doesn't put as much stress on my back, and my legs don't get tired at all (you don't have to bend them that much to make a difference). I also take care not to stand up too fast, kind of rotate my knees/pelvis under my back before I straighten up. And I always apply a healthy dose of BenGay after a long session (and sometimes before)! ;)
 
Right now I am dealing with the same issue. Mine is so bad now I couldn't lift my left leg to get my pants on this morning. As it is, playing pool in this condition is impossible.

I am going to give you the same advice that I need to take.

See a doctor, and get the issue resolved. Pool will be there later.



derangedhermit said:
It can't be an uncommon case: an old ruptured disc left a couple vertebrae a little too close together, and sometimes they squeeze a nerve. The straight-leg, straight-back stance of youth is not possible.

Are there common remedies for dealing with back pain while maintaining decent form? It seems that standing more sideways and inside the line and letting the front knee bend a good bit helps, while still letting one get one's head down over the shot - but that's just from trial-and-error.
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You might want to check out Alexander Technique. It's all about proper posture and movement. I had back pain for years and went the traditional route: physical therapy and anti-inflammlatories. Those didn't work. After one AT lesson my pain was decreased.

Coincidentally, this week we're going to a bar at the corner (that has pool tables) so she can look at my stance and suggest improvements.
 
Tony_in_MD said:
See a doctor, and get the issue resolved. Pool will be there later.
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I'm sorry about your back's current state.

My GP has known about it since it happened (several years). She says, in this case, unless / until something changes, she prefers we make accommodations and manage the occasional severe pain, over surgery.
 
Thanks, seeing a doctor this afternoon. I have done Chiropractic therapy for years, because I did not want to go the traditional route. I think it is time for a change.

derangedhermit said:
I'm sorry about your back's current state.

My GP has known about it since it happened (several years). She says, in this case, unless / until something changes, she prefers we make accommodations and manage the occasional severe pain, over surgery.
Click to expand...
 
Strengthen your ab muscles. I have 2 herniated disc and other than stretching my physical therapy was mostly centered around my abdominal muscles. Usually squeezing a workout ball between my chest and legs or other similar low intensity exercises. It needs to be very light and very controlled. As your muscles become more balanced you will take pressure off your back muscle which should alleviate the pain.
 
I will add to what Tony said, in that there is no one correct stance for anyone. You cannot play pool when you are in pain. If you really want to keep playing, while you heal, find a stance that works for you. Basic idea is that the cue should be as level as reasonable, and you should still be able to "sight" down the shot line.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Tony_in_MD said:
Right now I am dealing with the same issue. Mine is so bad now I couldn't lift my left leg to get my pants on this morning. As it is, playing pool in this condition is impossible.

I am going to give you the same advice that I need to take.

See a doctor, and get the issue resolved. Pool will be there later.
Click to expand...
 
I bend my back leg to ease the pressure on my back. I used to lock my back leg and still do on certain shots out of habit. Not locking in all shots hasn't affected my playing that I can tell. Disclaimer-I could probably stand on my head and it wouldn't matter.
 
stumpie71 said:
Strengthen your ab muscles. I have 2 herniated disc and other than stretching my physical therapy was mostly centered around my abdominal muscles. Usually squeezing a workout ball between my chest and legs or other similar low intensity exercises. It needs to be very light and very controlled. As your muscles become more balanced you will take pressure off your back muscle which should alleviate the pain.
Click to expand...
My father-in-law does a specific set of ab workouts daily on his doctor's advice, and he swears by them as the solution to his lower back pain. I have a hole in my ab muscles I can stick a finger in, so my doc says no ab exercises - and "if you ever see anything bulging out there, gently push it back in.":eek:
 
Scott Lee said:
[...]Basic idea is that the cue should be as level as reasonable, and you should still be able to "sight" down the shot line.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...
I noticed tonight while practicing that I naturally use several stances anyway during play. Two basic alterations for me are swapping which leg is in front for maximum reach when shooting from one end where the cue ball is between mid-table and a diamond further away, and straddling the table corner for similar reach shots but different shot angles. I also adapt my stance for shots mainly down the length of the table when standing on either side of the table. I guess most players make these adjustments (or use a bridge a lot more than I do).

I decided that consistent torso-and-up position was much more important than where feet and legs happen to be, as long as you have good balance.

With bent knees, I was much more comfortable and the only back twinges I noticed tonight were on a couple break shots; I suspect my torso twists rather hard on breaks.
 
derangedhermit said:
My father-in-law does a specific set of ab workouts daily on his doctor's advice, and he swears by them as the solution to his lower back pain. I have a hole in my ab muscles I can stick a finger in, so my doc says no ab exercises - and "if you ever see anything bulging out there, gently push it back in.":eek:
Click to expand...

Are you saying you can never do ab exercises for the rest of your life? Is there any way to get the problem with your abs fixed? Is it a hernia that needs to be repaired? Strengthening your core will do amazingly good things for your body, all around.
 
Disclaimer: I'm not a Dr, Everyone's situation is different, Proceed at your own risk, I have no affiliation to the book mentioned, I'm just a pool player with a bad back:)

I have sciatica and have been experimenting with trying to find a new stance. I got a book called "Treat your own back, by McKenzie" for $10 from Amazon that has you do specific stretches to attempt to move bulging discs back to where they are supposed to be. I have gotten some relief of my pain doing these stretches. Note, these stretches are specifically designed to move the bulges, not to strengthen the core. Strengthening the core is a great idea to anyone...

Anyway, while reading the book the author stressed throughout that in everything you do, to include sitting, standing, walking, lifting, etc., you should try your best to maintain the lordosis. The author showed what that meant. Basically keep your lower back concave at all times, and never convex.

So I tried to apply that to my pool stance. I had already adopted a higher stance than before the sciatica, by raising up. But my back still bothered me. With my new knowledge from the book, I paid extra attention to my lower back while in my stance, and tried my best to make sure the lordosis is maintained. It looks quite a bit goofy, and my a$$ is sticking out while doing it. But it has given me some relief compared to other stances I tried.

I still have pain while playing, but I think so far this method has given me the most releif.
 
derangedhermit...Take some speed off of your break, and quit trying to throw your body into the break. It's not necessary for a good break, and will help keep your pain level down. Let the cue do the work.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

derangedhermit said:
With bent knees, I was much more comfortable and the only back twinges I noticed tonight were on a couple break shots; I suspect my torso twists rather hard on breaks.
Click to expand...
 
FranCrimi said:
Are you saying you can never do ab exercises for the rest of your life? Is there any way to get the problem with your abs fixed? Is it a hernia that needs to be repaired? Strengthening your core will do amazingly good things for your body, all around.
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No hernia (nothing bulging out). I'll ask my doc for her current opinion at my next physical and discuss it with her.
 
Scott Lee said:
derangedhermit...Take some speed off of your break, and quit trying to throw your body into the break. It's not necessary for a good break, and will help keep your pain level down. Let the cue do the work.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...
I think you are saying the shoulder itself (say the joint, for a reference point) doesn't need to rotate around the spine during a break shot; that only the chest and back muscles used to move the upper arm need to move. This is news to me. I'll have to check this out. Thanks for the tip.

BTW, this would make the break shot very different than a tennis stroke, or golf swing, or baseball pitch, where most of the momentum is transferred from or through the back into the arm. I figured for a 20 mph break, the arm alone was either not enough, or not the best / smoothest way to accelerate the cue.
 
derangedhermit...The drive in golf comes closest to a break shot in pool. In golf the best drivers let the club head speed and timing create the stroke speed, and consequently the distance the ball travels. IMO, the break is the same. I can easily generate a 20 mph break using nothing more than the weight of the cue, accuracy, and timing...all done with no involvement of the shoulder.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

derangedhermit said:
I think you are saying the shoulder itself (say the joint, for a reference point) doesn't need to rotate around the spine during a break shot; that only the chest and back muscles used to move the upper arm need to move. This is news to me. I'll have to check this out. Thanks for the tip.

BTW, this would make the break shot very different than a tennis stroke, or golf swing, or baseball pitch, where most of the momentum is transferred from or through the back into the arm. I figured for a 20 mph break, the arm alone was either not enough, or not the best / smoothest way to accelerate the cue.
Click to expand...
 
I have switched up my stance in the last few months due to lower back pain. I had an injury from weightlifting when i was 18 but i think most of it now is my weight which i am workin on. Im back to the gym 3 days a week and walking a lot. Before i would try and do drills and a half hour in at the table my back was bangin but its getting better. The stance im using now is the more bended front knee. I have been watching video of players that are big guys and how they stand and get down over the table. It has helped as well
 
If you have your own table, consider having it raised so that the playing surface is at 33-34". While not regulation, it may help your situation substantially.
 
Not Dead Ted said:
If you have your own table, consider having it raised so that the playing surface is at 33-34". While not regulation, it may help your situation substantially.
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I wondered about that. I would guess that tables are at about the same height as a century ago, while humans have grown a few inches taller. Maybe a better standard height would be something like 32".
 
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