Lower back tightening up after squats.... - Bodybuilding Discussion on Bodybuilding.net Training Forum

BG5150 · 08-11-2006, 10:03 AM

Lately, my lower back has been tightening up after doing squats. It's the oddest thing. My lower back never bothered me before after doing them. And my lower back does't act up during the squats, just after.

I'm pretty sure my form is fine--I've done them long enough to know. I even drastically lowwered the weight today and did three sets (only 135 lbs). After the third set, I could hardly stand.

This sucks!

Eric3237 · 08-11-2006, 12:06 PM

Besides something like a pinched nerve (maybe not even in the lower back) that could be causing you to seize up one thing that comes to my mind is tight hamstrings. If you stretch them regularly after you do legs then never mind but if you don't they may have gradually grown tighter. Tight hamstrings pull on the lower back causing it to hunch and you may not even notice it. That is something to evaluate. Also tight hip flexors (psoas) can do that. In general lack of flexibility or imbalanced flexitbility can cause problems like this. Just a guess though.

sdf42450 · 08-12-2006, 09:23 PM

if you're on cycle, you may be getting lowerback pumps...

Darkhorse · 08-12-2006, 10:35 PM

Taurine is supposed to fix excessive lower back pumps. Pretty cheap over at BN too.

Dr X · 08-17-2006, 04:33 PM

do you wear a belt and is it a good one?

BG5150 · 08-18-2006, 08:22 AM

I don't wear a belt.

I just don't understand why it's happening now; it's never happened before.. Even with the lowering of the weight.

And the muscles aren't sore, they just tighten up. Maybe I'm just getting odd pumps for some reason like sdf & 0311 alluded to. (BTW, I'm not cycling anything).

Kane · 08-18-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BG5150

And the muscles aren't sore, they just tighten up. .

I'm getting the same thing lately. My lower back is pumping up after I squat. No pain or loss of strength, just a noticeable pump to the point where I can flex my lower back at will

Dr X · 08-18-2006, 12:48 PM

Make sure you hamstrings are good and stretched out. If they are tight it has a direct effect on your back. Also make sure your drinking lots of water. Another thing is if you have been constipated this can also be part of the problem.

Darkhorse · 08-21-2006, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Another thing is if you have been constipated this can also be part of the problem.

That's when the rusty coat hanger comes in to play.

Diablo0125 · 08-21-2006, 09:20 AM

Im dealing with the same case but not with squats....there is some lower back pain but its mainly with deadlifts. Its been about 3 weeks since it happened. I got a really bad pump after 1 set and i stopped and rested it not doing much lower back exercises. Ive taken Taurine as suggested about 3-4 grams/per and using a belt more often. Only loss is a decrease in strength with deadlifts about 20lbs.

08-11-2006, 10:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
BG5150 Rank: Bantamweight Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 856 Country: Gender:	Lower back tightening up after squats.... Lately, my lower back has been tightening up after doing squats. It's the oddest thing. My lower back never bothered me before after doing them. And my lower back does't act up during the squats, just after. I'm pretty sure my form is fine--I've done them long enough to know. I even drastically lowwered the weight today and did three sets (only 135 lbs). After the third set, I could hardly stand. This sucks!
	BG5150's Sig:There are no stupid questions, just stupid people. Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left. Are you eating while you are reading this? You should be... --hrdgain81 Remember, kids, if you type well the Grammar Fairy will leave a quarter under your pillow. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation Well, the Blog's (finally) back (again!): Love and Hope and Sex and Dreams Here is my newly-created World of Warcraft Blog: BG's WoW Blog. Feel free to stop by and comment.

08-11-2006, 12:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Eric3237 Moderator Rank: Heavyweight Experience: 7-10 Years Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,478 Country: Gender:	Besides something like a pinched nerve (maybe not even in the lower back) that could be causing you to seize up one thing that comes to my mind is tight hamstrings. If you stretch them regularly after you do legs then never mind but if you don't they may have gradually grown tighter. Tight hamstrings pull on the lower back causing it to hunch and you may not even notice it. That is something to evaluate. Also tight hip flexors (psoas) can do that. In general lack of flexibility or imbalanced flexitbility can cause problems like this. Just a guess though.
	Eric3237's Sig:Anybody can talk a lot. Smart people listen... -Son's first grade teacher

08-12-2006, 10:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Darkhorse Moderator Rank: Light Heavyweight Experience: 7-10 Years Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: CA Posts: 4,022 Country: Gender:	Taurine is supposed to fix excessive lower back pumps. Pretty cheap over at BN too.
	Darkhorse's Sig:"The greater the development and strength of the main muscular structures of the body, the greater the size and strength potential of the small areas of the body." - Stuart McRobert Orange County Strength Club

08-17-2006, 04:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dr X Rank: Lightweight Experience: 10+ Years Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: in the deep recesses of your mind Posts: 1,043 Country: Gender:	do you wear a belt and is it a good one?
	Dr X's Sig:The Fool say in his heart "There is no God"

08-18-2006, 08:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
BG5150 Rank: Bantamweight Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 856 Country: Gender:	I don't wear a belt. I just don't understand why it's happening now; it's never happened before.. Even with the lowering of the weight. And the muscles aren't sore, they just tighten up. Maybe I'm just getting odd pumps for some reason like sdf & 0311 alluded to. (BTW, I'm not cycling anything).
	BG5150's Sig:There are no stupid questions, just stupid people. Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left. Are you eating while you are reading this? You should be... --hrdgain81 Remember, kids, if you type well the Grammar Fairy will leave a quarter under your pillow. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation Well, the Blog's (finally) back (again!): Love and Hope and Sex and Dreams Here is my newly-created World of Warcraft Blog: BG's WoW Blog. Feel free to stop by and comment.

08-12-2006, 09:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
sdf42450 Rank: Member Experience: 7-10 Years Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 425	if you're on cycle, you may be getting lowerback pumps...

08-18-2006, 12:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dr X Rank: Lightweight Experience: 10+ Years Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: in the deep recesses of your mind Posts: 1,043 Country: Gender:	Make sure you hamstrings are good and stretched out. If they are tight it has a direct effect on your back. Also make sure your drinking lots of water. Another thing is if you have been constipated this can also be part of the problem.
	Dr X's Sig:The Fool say in his heart "There is no God"

08-21-2006, 09:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
Diablo0125 Rank: Member Experience: 3-5 Years Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 69 Country: Gender:	Im dealing with the same case but not with squats....there is some lower back pain but its mainly with deadlifts. Its been about 3 weeks since it happened. I got a really bad pump after 1 set and i stopped and rested it not doing much lower back exercises. Ive taken Taurine as suggested about 3-4 grams/per and using a belt more often. Only loss is a decrease in strength with deadlifts about 20lbs.

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