Best Equipment for lower back?

[Times Roman]

I'm looking to upgrade some equipment, saw this, and was wondering if this type is the best for lower back? If not, can you recommend?
Please advise
Roman

[HawaiianPride.]

Back extensions work pretty well. Although I tend to stick with Good Mornings more often.

[Times Roman]

Back extensions work pretty well. Although I tend to stick with Good Mornings more often.

??? Good mornings?

I answered my own question and now know what a good morning is... thanks

[bigboomer]

I do both good morning and back extensions..They both go well together..

[Times Roman]

I guess I need to look up "good mornings"

[HawaiianPride.]

Yes, I guess you do.

[Times Roman]

Yes, I guess you do.

done!

[Damienm05]

I've actually never tried good mornings! I've always just done weighted back extensions with a plate. I'll sub them in this week - looks better just hadn't been introduced.

[HawaiianPride.]

Deadlifts fall superior to any lower back exercise in my opinion though. The overall effectiveness really does wonders to a well developed back, not to mention the rest of the muscles throughout the body the DL recruits.

[Matt]

Deadlifts fall superior to any lower back exercise in my opinion though. The overall effectiveness really does wonders to a well developed back, not to mention the rest of the muscles throughout the body the DL recruits.

Stiff leg deadlifts are awesome for lower back imo bro...

[HawaiianPride.]

SLDL's are another great recruiter. I'll agree with that.

[Times Roman]

Gents. All great stuff. But I'm 48, have back problems, and just talked to my doctor yesterday about seeing a surgeon. the above extension machine looked pretty good to me. Although I imagine within short order the number of reps would be high. i was trying to think of a way to be able to add some weight to that, or do you just grab a plate and hold it to your chest?

[HawaiianPride.]

I usually hold a 45lbs plate to my chest if I'm using the extension machine. Did you consult with your doctor about training your lower back?

[Times Roman]

I usually hold a 45lbs plate to my chest if I'm using the extension machine. Did you consult with your doctor about training your lower back?

he's a skinny guy from india that worships the BMI charts... he keeps telling me I am way too heavy. i try to swing the conversation over to something more relevent like bf%, but he can be stubborn. In his defense, we finally had our conversation yesterday, and did some blood work this morning. He's open to a TRT patch, but when I brought up other options, he says I can talk to an endo. I'm gunning for the weekly pin, and then convert that to something I can do at home. Then, and only then, will my woman be comfortable with pins in the house. But regarding the exercise discussion, the last time I went to a physical therapist, I walked away with about 5 feet of plastic surgical tubing to exercise with. As if that's really going to do anything, unless I'm some feeble 80 year old geriatric.

[hulk21]

if you can find one, the MedX core lumbar machine. best exercise i've ever done for my low back.

[Dan111]

I actually find it easier to hold a dumbbell for adding weight when doing hyperextensions. A 45lb plate can be kind of bulky and cumbersome (at least on the particular machines at my gym, cause a 45lb plate almost hits the sides when going up and down). But you can also add more weight when using dumbbells.

[Times Roman]

if you can find one, the MedX core lumbar machine. best exercise i've ever done for my low back.

this?

[Times Roman]

if you can find one, the MedX core lumbar machine. best exercise i've ever done for my low back.

or this...?

[hulk21]

the first one. amazing work on the low back. total isolation. the restraint over the knees as well as the belt takes the legs/hips/glutes out.

[Times Roman]

the first one. amazing work on the low back. total isolation. the restraint over the knees as well as the belt takes the legs/hips/glutes out.

dam thing looks expensive and bulky.... I'd have to get rid of my pool table just to make it fit. So you don't think the original piece of eqipment up at the top of this thread is sufficient?

[HawaiianPride.]

They'll all work the same in a sense. The first photo would most definitely be more convenient.

[Times Roman]

They'll all work the same in a sense. The first photo would most definitely be more convenient.

And that's my point. I can pick that up for $240 on line (now I just need to get a friggin job so I can pay for it!)

[digismash]

Hey Times, is your back prob in the muscles or vertebrae? I have a bad back from football and as funny as it sounds yoga does wonders for it.

[Times Roman]

Hey Times, is your back prob in the muscles or vertebrae? I have a bad back from football and as funny as it sounds yoga does wonders for it.

spurs on the spine, with some scoliosis and sway back for good measure. Discs are 100% primo. So really, when pain, If I can just work through it no risk of serious damage since not alignment or disc. But fuk! I've been "working through it" for 25 years now!!! AFter awhile, this sh1t gets old and really wears you out!!!!!!

I can seriously see how some fukkers just say fuk it and throw in the towel. It's really hard to lift when regular interruptions due to back pain. Sometimes, say maybe two, three times a year a have to take a few weeks off just to let my back calm down

[MotoLifter]

a better name for good mornings would be good nights! that is a wicked exercise that can do some damage if not dont properly. although the certainly do work well.


Moto

[xxxl83]

Good mornings are a staple in my program I do some type of them 4X a week obviously I switch intensity, and volume most days it's very light (100 reps with just a mini, or light band) but i'm trying to raise gpp (work capacity).

Now with your back issues you might want to look into a reverse hyperextension machine. Many benefits and hits glutes, hams, and erectors from a different angle. look them up. Plus a bunch of rehab prehab benefits as well, ie. spinal decompression etc...

xxxl83

[Times Roman]

Good mornings are a staple in my program I do some type of them 4X a week obviously I switch intensity, and volume most days it's very light (100 reps with just a mini, or light band) but i'm trying to raise gpp (work capacity).

Now with your back issues you might want to look into a reverse hyperextension machine. Many benefits and hits glutes, hams, and erectors from a different angle. look them up. Plus a bunch of rehab prehab benefits as well, ie. spinal decompression etc...

xxxl83

isn't the equipment you just mentioned the same one that I've pic'd waay at the top?

[xxxl83]

TR,

Nope the pic at the top is a regular hyperextension bench your legs are stationary and you move your upper body through the ROM (range of motion).

A reverse hyper is the opposite your upper body remains stationary and your legs move through the ROM, go to elitefts.com or westsidebarbell.com and check them out. or youtube it.

xxxl83

[Times Roman]

TR,

Nope the pic at the top is a regular hyperextension bench your legs are stationary and you move your upper body through the ROM (range of motion).

A reverse hyper is the opposite your upper body remains stationary and your legs move through the ROM, go to elitefts.com or westsidebarbell.com and check them out. or youtube it.

xxxl83

oh, ok.... I will

[Times Roman]

Good mornings are a staple in my program I do some type of them 4X a week obviously I switch intensity, and volume most days it's very light (100 reps with just a mini, or light band) but i'm trying to raise gpp (work capacity).

Now with your back issues you might want to look into a reverse hyperextension machine. Many benefits and hits glutes, hams, and erectors from a different angle. look them up. Plus a bunch of rehab prehab benefits as well, ie. spinal decompression etc...

xxxl83

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTyk_7D_pQA

OK, so you are thinking for an old bull like me with some back issues, the reverse hyper extension may be a better bet? I'll have to go with my buddy to the gym and see if they have one to take for a test drive

thanks!

[xxxl83]

yup search around for articles by louie simmons regarding this device and it's benefits. Granted he is the inventor of the machine but, he is also one of the most inovative strength coachs on the planet. He is a consultant to a # of pro football teams and a whole shit load of D1 football teams. Oh and not to mention he has coached more powerlifting record holders than anyone else. He also broke his back and that is what made him invent this, and he squatted 900lbs afterwards while in his 50's.

The only ones i've ever used were his models so can't speak of the quality of any other manufacturer. But he's got many models in many price ranges. like I said above check them out at elitefts.com AND westsidebarbell.com also both these sites have some of the best training articles around bar none. Not checking these places and their info out would be a disservice to yourself.

Just my .02

xxxl83

[xxxl83]

Oh and i know you may not be a strength athlete but any GOOD coach will tell you the first priority of training is injury prevention. If your hurt on the bench, you're not playing OR training.......


xxxl83

[Twist]

I absolutely hate lying on my stomach and doing exercise. It obstructs my breathing and is just generally uncomfortable. Plus when you add a lot of weight its too much pressure on the chest. Although, I got kicked in the chest by a horse and never been the same since. Anyway might wanna take that into account. Just go to a gym and try equipment before you buy it. What other people like is different than what you may like.

[xxxl83]

no pressure on your chest at all just hands and hip's infact your chest doesn't even touch the bench ( watch a video of louie simmons). This is also a therapeutic device and will ease all sorts of lower back pain and make you strong.

would you do a exercise that would allow you to train healthy (no back injury, a strong back is a healthy back) for a long time.

Oh did i mention these will help blow your squat and deads through the roof, especially if you've never done them before.

As far as doing things that make you uncomfortable (and reverse hypers are not uncomfortable) Pal they're the things that yield the best results, lol.

You think pitchers like that freezing cold ice soak after the game, or an NFL player in a tub full of ice water after the game, NOPE but they do it cause it's therapeutic and good for them, and allows them to be ready on the field and you in the gym (FULLY RECOVERED) faster.
I do contrast showers 4X a week as part of my "extra workouts" They are awesome you feel great when they're done and they're good for you. But during is hell.

I'm gonna do a thread on restoration, recovery, and prehab, techniques soon cause I think it's needed here.

Stay Strong,

xxxl83

[Times Roman]

I'm taking notes on all this....

btw... I appreciate all the help. I've been working out solo for years, well, all my life basically, and really no one to show me anything. Gains have always come grudgingly, so when someone knowledgeable throws me a bone, I pay attention.

Roman