Back To The Future

Little did I know at the age of 15 when I was diagnosed with scoliosis (a curvature of the spine) and was told that I may have to wear a back brace and that there was a distinct possibility that I would develop a humped back as I became older, that 30+ years later my back could bring me joy.

Not long after my partner and I got together he commented on what a lovely back I had. I had never considered my back as one of my physical assets before. It was such a lovely thing to hear firstly because I was glad that the work I was putting into my training was paying off and secondly (and more importantly) because for years my back had only ever been a source of discomfort, pain and frustration to me.

For years the scoliosis had caused persistent pain in my upper back which was particularly pronounced when sitting for hours at a laptop (which I did a lot of in my previous career). Then, in 2013, I sustained an injury to my sacroiliac joint when running on a treadmill (people – PLEASE don’t jump on and off of a moving treadmill belt!) that was exacerbated by the scoliosis; the pain in my lower back caused by this became, at times, insufferable. Not having access to an MRI I assumed it was a bulging disk that was causing the burning pain in my right bum cheek, lower back and down my right leg, sometimes as far down as my shin.

Fast forward through multiple inconclusive and frustrating appointments with physios and chiropractors, an inadvisable dalliance with hot yoga, being told I should never run again (I ignored that), a number of episodes of pain and immobility caused by relatively simple and undemanding exercises (it turns out that demonstrating one burpee with my un-warmed up back is a bad idea) and constant fear of injury and I was starting to believe that lower back pain was something that I was just going to have to accept for the rest of my life.

And then I was introduced to my glutes and, oh my goodness, I am so glad I was! I asked my great friend Richy Lunt, qualified in massage therapy with years’ of experience using weight lifting for rehabilitation to take a look at me and see if he could advise me on what might be causing my pain and persistent injuries. It turns out that the jolt I had received to my sacroiliac joint had caused trauma to the gluteals, lumbar spine and erectors. The muscles in my right buttock specifically were not activating properly even when performing glute heavy exercises like squats and deadlifts, causing the surrounding muscles to pick up the slack. With Richy's guidance I developed a better technique and incorporated new glute and back focussed exercises into my training programme - not only did I start to experience less pain but my lifts got stronger.

Along with all this work on my glutes and lower back I also started to focus extra attention on my middle and upper back to try and counter some of the effects of the scoliosis. TRX suspension trainer, weight plated rows, cable rows, pull ups – I loved it all and soon became addicted to having a stronger and more defined back.

The training I do is not a magic wand and I still experience discomfort from time to time (weeding seems to really disagree with me!) and have to take special care with my technique and undertake regular maintenance but it is undeniable that weight lifting and resistance training with good form has utterly transformed my back health.

And at 46 I’ve got a not bad looking bum and back too so, you know, yay.