Tight Back

**engr** · December 16th, 2005, 08:42 AM

Hello all. I have a question, even after reading MMs excellent back pain thread. Yesterday I played racquetball with some buddies and had a really tight back the entire time. I play at least once a week and am keeping up fairly well on my stretching/exercising in general and have had no back problems to speak of. I could not get it to loosen up for anything tried several different kinds of stretches - flexion, extension, trunk rotations, lateral flexion, everything I have ever done to no avail.
Any great back loosening up suggestions?

Thx,
engr

**Italianangel** · December 19th, 2005, 06:33 PM

Get a session of deep tissue massage to work out the scar tissue which is causing the pulling and tightening - also look at your water intake and maybe minerals too.

**engr** · December 20th, 2005, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Italianangel

Get a session of deep tissue massage to work out the scar tissue which is causing the pulling and tightening - also look at your water intake and maybe minerals too.

Thanks Angel. I appreciate the advice. My water intake is sporadic at best, I'm gonna try to keep a bottle by the puter at work and empty it twice a day. I'll also look into massage.

**Manfred_Man** · December 20th, 2005, 11:12 PM

good call, Italianangel!

definitely check your water intake... especially during the drier winter season...

as well, consider yoga and active isolated stretching (AIS) to increase your flexibility & mobility.

take care of that back... get some good rest!

**painless2** · December 30th, 2005, 01:30 AM

For acute treatment you can take a full size bath towel and roll it up width-wise, dampen in and throw it in the microwave to heat it. Lay the towel on a hard floor and lie on it with the towel tracing the spine. It elevates the spine and causes stretch of the muscle origins, both from length and from the heat of the towel, and it feels damn good!