lower back hurting while running this morning

[cornishgirl54]

When I was running this morning I suddenly realised my lower back was hurting after about 3K. I finished the 5K so it wasn't really bad but I can still feel it in my lower back a few hours later. I'm not aware that I was doing anything different from how I normally run. It was muddy but not impossibly so for running pretty slowly as I always do. I was wearing my usual running shoes and it was my regular 5K parkrun course, which is flat. I wondered if anyone might have any ideas as to why this might happen and if I can avoid it happening again?

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏The problem with lower back pain is we often don’t know what starts it.. it could be sitting a little too long, lifting something heavy or the wrong way or & twist in the shower.. no pain at the time, but then it shows up later.. it’s generally speaking weak core muscles. You need to be doing specific exercises to strengthen your core. I definitely wouldn’t be running until the pain has gone! If there is no relief you need to consult a GP or physio. Pop over to our Strength & Flex site for some ideas!

healthunlocked.com/strength...

[cornishgirl54 Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Thank you for your kind reply. I've spoken to my regular osteopath this afternoon and will see him tomorrow if it's not better. I've had back problems for 40 years so I do specific exercises to deal with weakness issues but I wondered if this might be a new problem that had occurred specifically because of running.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate in reply to cornishgirl54]

🤗Sorry to hear that & glad you have a professional to give you advice. Let us know how you get on and hoping it’s not a set back for you. Xx

[cornishgirl54 Graduate]

I hope it doesn't transpire to be a serious problem - for a long time I've been harbouring a secret ambition to do a 10K run with my son before I get too old to do it and I've signed us up for a 10K in Manchester this summer. I'm really hoping I can keep running until then - even if I have to walk part of it on the day, I want to be able to complete it! X

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to cornishgirl54]

I think when you’ve had problems before, it’s easy to leap to “this is a flare up that will stop me running” when it’s entirely possible it’s just one of those things that will settle down on its own or can be managed with a bit of help from a professional. It sounds like you’ve got trained people you can seek real life advice from which is always the best course of action. My physio was just a godsend. He worked with runners and was used to putting us back together and setting our minds at ease! Sometimes that’s just what you need. After I had knee issues, if was really hard not to think that any run with a grumble would stop me running forever but that hasn’t proved to be the case.

Just wishing you lots of luck with this.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏Oh how special!! What did osteopath have to say about it all?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Annieapple has given you some great advice...your back pain could be there for any number of reasons... landing awkwardly at some point, sleeping in a different position... but core strength as she says, is so important...

Here are some back exercises on S and F

healthunlocked.com/strength......

Yoga with Adriene too... some lovely gentle exercise for lower back pain...

youtube.com/watch?v=J-05m7b...(Not working as expected?)

I can recommend this one !

Hope this helps !