My Lower Back

[Rachel]

I have something called an excessive lordosis (think that's it) of the spine, which means that my lower back is bent too much to the inside - it seriously resembles a 'c' shape and makes my bum stick out. I've only quite recently known this, and have been told (by my mums back book) to 'stand up as tall as you can, pull my chest up and tighten my stomack muscles and buttocks'. This is really uncomfortable, so I adapted it a bit, tilting my pelvis rather then tightening my bum. But it's still a bit uncomfortable and hard to keep it there. So, if there is anyone out there who can help me PLEASE do! It's affecting my riding, though i now know what I can and can't do to compensate for it, but I want it to change!

Rachel

[Pete]

Rachel
Only suggestion I have at the moment is that Heather has been working with the Alexander technique a fair bit and intends to do more with it - apparently helps a great deal with this sort of problem.  I'll throw this to the wide world and see if anyone more clued up on Alexander might be able to help..  I'm pretty sloppy in the slower back having done county level gymnastics as a kid - Heather is always going on about how my pelvis is too loose!!!!

Cheers

[Heather]

Sometimes think Pete's pelvis is floating and not actually attached- pity he doesn't look like Elvis or he could have a lucrative career as an Elvis lookalike! Seriously, he is a pelvic wriggler on a horse and yesterday, Debbie and I were prodding and poking the poor guy trying to find out which bits didn't seem to be attached!! We had Pete walking on the spot, whilst I held his hips and just simply stopped him being able to rotate his pelvis. Then we made him run on the spot with me doing the same. All of a sudden the penny dropped, that the pelvis is more or less upright all of the time, with only a very small forward and back rotation- this is almost nil when riding say, passage or piaffe, with the horse in high collection. I think next time we get Pete on a horse he will be sitting to the trot without wriggling- whether he no longer walks as if on a ship, will be another matter!!!!

(Ahem...sorry Pete)    

[Natalie]

Rachael,

Has your doctor recommended any type of physical therapy as although this won't solve the problem it might help relieve some of the pain.

[lulu]

Have tried going to see an osteopath - they may be able to help. I visit mine every 3 months or so because of lower back pain (resulting from a slight twist in my spine)

[Rachel]

Thanks for the suggestions! (and the story Heather - I do wonder about what happens on your yard!).

Pete - I'll look into that, does anyone teach it already in Devon?

Natalie, it doesn't actually hurt as it is. But it's when I try to correct it, it is
uncomfortable and frustrates me as I can't keep it there!

lulu - I'll ask my mum about the osteopath, seeing as it would be her paying for it! Does it hurt? (I'm terrible with pain!)

Thanks,

Rachel
 

[Pete]

When Heather finishes her latest course, she'll dig out the relevant info for you...
Cheers

Elvis...  B)  

[lulu]

No it doesn't hurt with the osteo - a lot of people think that it's all 'cracking' bones into place - but I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've had that done.  If anything it's a real release of tension.  They work on massage, stretching and manipulating.  The one thing to bear in mind, is that you can feel worse before you feel better i.e they are trying to release tension and weird shapes, so it takes a while to adjust to the 'correct' alignment etc.

[Possum]

when you correct it CORRECTLY it wont hurt!

But its really difficult to get someone to show you HOW to correct it properly - most people look at the external shape, and dont think about HOW your muscles should work.
 

[Rachel]

Thanks lulu, Elvis (!) and Issy.

Interesting - I'd always expected it to be at least a bit uncomfy, as I'm trying to correct 14 years of bad posture. Have you got any suggestions, Issy?

[Possum]

The reason you need one-to-one Alexander is - if you try to do it remotely - there are SO MANY ways of doing it WRONG - that you're BOUND to do one of these, ad not the RIGHT way.

If you live nr Reading I could give you very basic first pointers, but NOT over the internet.

Also, I'd suggest and osteo visit first to 'check it out' same as you would  a horse.!
 

[Pete]

Try Annette Pennie (think the surname is right....)  ask Heather for the contact details - she does horses and humans and has spectacular success apparently.  

Lives in North Devon.....

Pete

[Rachel]

Thanks again - I live in Devon, Issy, so I'll probably try Annnette, though thank you very much for the offer of help.    

[Woody]

For those folks with back problems, alignment problems or coordination issues sometime Bowen therapy may help.  It worked for me and my horse and some of my friends . . . .  so much so that a decided to learn more about it myself.

It doesn't hurt and is really relaxing.

[KathyGrant]

Dear Rachel,

I too have excessive lordosis, along with scoliosis and arthritis of the full length of the spine. I am a qualified nurse, and for years, have had physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture, scans, x-rays, steroid injections... you name it, I've had it (I'm not yet 43!).

You will never change the physical shape of your spine if you are an adult (I have been told this by several orthopaedic consultants and physios). The best that you can achieve is strengthening of the supporting muscles and an improvement in posture, with an accompanying release of muscle tension/spasm = reduction in muscle pain. This is always accompanied by exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles, as they play a key role in supporting the spine. Another important point to remember, is that all the exercises you undertake to improve your situation, will end up being exercises for life, because as soon as you cease, your old posture will resume.

I hope this doesn't sound too depressing, because it isn't. You've lived with this condition so far, and it was only when someone told you about it and tried to get you to change your posture (without appropriate training), that you became aware there's a problem.

Despite my awful back, I still ride every week (I hope to get my own horse next year), and just pace myself if my back feels dodgy. Don't get anxious about it. Find a good Alexander Practitioner near you, or ask for referral to the local physio department (even better, as it's free!), so you can learn the exercises mentioned above. Swimming is also excellent for the back.

Good luck, and happy riding!  
Kathy.