riding good for the back????

[scout4361]

I recently hurt my back quite badly at work and I'm trying to take precautions by not doing anything strenuous involving my back. i once hurt it before, and although not nearly as painful, i was quite stiff and sore and was going to cancel my riding lesson. However, my previous instructor at the time, told me that riding is very good for the spine and would actually make it feel better. Amazingly enough she was right!!!!

Now this time, this is a bit more severe. I'm taking loads of pain killers etc..., but i'm wondering what to do about my upcoming lesson. I hate to cancel any of them. Has anyone else heard something simular to this about the benifits of riding to the spine or had a simular experience???? I plan to call my current riding stable to ask them their opinion as well.

[Wally]

In the old days, when I was young, :) it was generally considered that riding gave you a bad back due to all the "bumping about!"


I injured my back horrendously about 12 years ago, so badly that I ended up in a wheelchair and thought I'd never be able to walk again! Pain, I never knew the meaning, child birth was easier!:D ;) :eek:

Suffice it to say that I have spent a long time on the couches of physios, chiropractors and osteopaths......who ALL now seem to think that gentle riding on reliable, quiet horses is good exercise for a bad back. Riding encourages (WHEN DONE CORRECTLY) the right posture, the right muscle group strengthening and good manipulation.

Well I ride regularly for hours at a time and not always as gently as one should! ;) I thought I'd never walk again, but through developing the right techniques and using them to protect my back and strengthen it my back is as good as anyone who never had a back injury.
If my back is having an off day I get up and move about and ride the slower horses, keep moving gently and most folk's back problems improve. I have been known ro spend the day with a hot water botle down the back of my jodhs, but it works wonders.

Make sure you have a good gentle, sympathetic horse, one who won't blink if a bomb goes off and after half an hour of walking you'll be amazed at how much better your back feels, so long as you and the horse go slowly.

All the best with it. I know what it can be like.

[galadriel]

I had a few problems with my back earlier this year, and I found that--just as Wally says--half an hour of gentle walking was about the best therapy I could get.

Of course, I was also attending physical therapy, taking painkillers, working on fixing what was wrong with my back...but it always felt sooo much better when I could get on and ride for a bit.

There were times when my back was hurting so badly that I couldn't ride--I couldn't do anything at all. At those times, I don't think that riding would have helped. But as long as I was mobile at all, riding was excellent for my back :)

[scout4361]

Well, based on what I hear from both of you and from my instructor, I'm going to go and ride tomorrow!! I'm so happy not to miss a lesson. After a couple of horrendous weeks of pain, I have begun to feel somewhat better, just a little battered and sore. Wally, I know just what you mean about knowing the true meaning of pain.

Thanks alot guys. Both of you always give superb advice. This is a great forum!!!!

[Lynn_UK]

Hi Andy,

How did you get on with your ride?

Thinking about your questions I think it's important to know what is causing the pain, although I'm sure you'd do that anyway. A quick trip to the Docs might answer that one.

But I would recommend riding for improving back problems, I have a Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and my instructor commented after about 6 months of lessons that I was walking better than I had been - I didn't even realise. I havn't had surgery, but did wear a brace for 2 years as a teenager which pushed my spine into a lesser curve.

I also feel that I am holding my posture better since riding, and I hope that this will help me in later life.

Luckily I don't have much back pain, the odd twinge when I'm lounging and not keeping my back straight.

If anyone else want's to talk about this, as Scoliosis is not that uncommon, please PM me.

[Janette]

My mum had a lower back injury, and she rode. She found that the stretching of her hips, and the motion of the horse in walk really helped by gently stretching ahte ligaments which had become shortened and stiff.

[scout4361]

I am soooo much better now after a rough couple of weeks, and I'm sure riding was a help. My back never felt so good as just after my lesson. Now my instructor is away until mid November, so i'm not riding now. Thank goodness my lessons were on during my injury, cause I really feel that it helped alot. I really miss my lessons and can't wait to get back at it.