[Vickie Lake]

Ok Nuk99 and hg you are both in the same realm so I will answer you both in one post.

hg, a roman chair is a good piece of equipment but proper form and micromanaging every repetition is imperative. A quality, firm mattress is commonly a good first step in back evaluations. But there are so many styles of support that it leads us to the real truth. Your body is designed to be very malable and able to adapt to it's environment and the subsequent position it must establish to make you comfortable. As we lose the fluidity of our body, becoming more rigid and tight, the body can't adapt to a softer bed, an airplane seat, or the bent over position you have to get in to please a little girl in her play house. I prefer a firm mattress but if I get a soft mattress in a hotel I don't have to suffer; I hear this regularly.

Ok, 70% of your low back strength is provided from your abdominal wall. So everybody assumes that a weak low back automatically means their abs are weak. Oh contraire. Your abs work all day long, keeping you sitting up in a chair, holding your upper body lifted when your stand. You would not be able to stand from a seated position if your abs didn't engage; in fact we see this as a sign of aging - it's a sign of the muscle are not positioned to do their job , no matter your age. Typically, no absolutes, your abdominal muscles are strong if not balanced but you can't access the strength of the muscle because your posture is off and the abs are being held is a slack position as opposed to a taunt position. The abdominals are the primary stabilizer for the front of the hip and the lats are the primary stabilizer for the back of the hip. If the appropriate balance of tension and strength is compromised then so will the health of your spine ergo low back symptoms.

So hg, instead of the roman chair I would recommend a slightly larger footprint and get a a free standing cable lat pulldown apparatus. Please go to a fitness equipment store and not a sport store. It will be more expensive but it will also be more stable. You will be able to do abdominal work back work, shoulder work, arm work and chest work without a doubt and if you are creative you can even get some leg work. (I recommend shopping around the internet to compare price point for various features. Then play hardball with the clerk. I'll be happy to provide any assistance as you try to find the right product for you.)

Huk99, I want to clarify that I said "seemingly' unrelated exercises. Since the abdominal muscle shares connection with the pectoralis on the ribs. I almost always find that improving the pec health, typically that is lengthening the lower pec that can keep your shoulders rolled forward the rest of the 'obvious' exercises progress much more quickly. Remember also that the spine is a series of joints that articulate together. If your neck is forward you might mention that youe upper back hurts. It is inevitable that if left uncorrected your hips will take on a disadvantageous angle and that sets you up for some other pain eventually..

Most people are afraid of the torso twist when they have back pain. If you execute it correctly and remember to start where you are and not try to move to quickly to perfection the results can be almost immediate. In fact, this is one of the best stretch positions to open the shoulders, sternum and free the shoulders and yes those hips will reap benefits as well.

Closing Tip: When you have very definable symptoms you need to pay attention to the pain to insure that your exercises of choice create an opportunity for healing and not dis-ease that perpetuates the problem. You have to pay attention to diagnosed injury but you will never heal the problem until you find the origin of the imbalance that allowed the damage. Balance your spine, balance your training, keep your fluids high to help lubricate the joints, eat well so your body will receive the nutrients to support the new energy expenditure I know it seems like a lot but if you will take it seriously, build the consistency before the intensity you will find it all becomes second nature

It's your life and your game, if you want to be an athelete, and golf requires it, then you have to do what athletes do to be healthy and GOOD.

Vik