Bob-gar Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 This past tuesday I was working out with our new trainer and he had us do lots of push ups. Total for the day was around 50. May not be a lot in total, but I've not done that much in one session, ever. Wednesday night, I kept waking up in the middle of the night with a sore spot in my back. This continued into Thursda and today (Friday). It seems to be centralized in the middle of my back below and between my shoulder blades. Its not sore to the touch, but when I move certain ways, it can be pretty painful. Taking ibuprofen definitely helps mitigate the soreness, but its still there. My question is, can push-ups cause this type of pain? At what point should one seek medical attention?Thanks "Being stronger will make you better in every conceivable aspect of your life, except of course being weaker." Fitocracy: https://www.fitocracy.com/profile/boudainFitBit: http://www.fitbit.com/user/297TR5RunKeeper: http://runkeeper.com/user/boudain/profile Link to comment
wildross Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Pushups can definitely cause it. My general rule is sharp stabbing pain--doctor. Aches or movement specific...wait a while. If ibuprofen works, it's most like not an injury. Try ice as well. Warriors don't count reps and sets. They count tons. My psychologist weighs 45 pounds, has an iron soul and sits on the end of a bar Tally Sheet for 2019 Encouragement for older members: Chronologically Blessed Group; Encouragement for newbie lifters: When we were weaker Link to comment
rix Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Could it be DOMS? 'Cause for push-ups, you need general upper-body strength, arms, shoulders, breast and back ...An other possibility: You could have done those push-ups in a wrong position to avoid pain or soreness or some weak spot and could've put more stress on your back that way.Going purely on instinct, would you rather want to keep that hurting spot warm or cold? Have you tried softly massaging it?If it doesn't get better or stops soon, I'd go to a doctor - better safe than sorry. [table=width: 600] [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] Rix - Level 2 Amazon Assassin STR 7 | DEX 6 | CON 7 | STA 5 | WIS 7 | CHA 4 | LVL 3 LVL 2 | LVL 1 Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen. Conan O'Brien [/table] Link to comment
Denny Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 What part of the back? If you have poor form the lower back can take a beating. Ensure you have a straight back by tightening your stomach and glutes (ass) while doing pushups. -> Dead Athletes Don't Lie -> John Cleese on Creativity -> Digital addiction and the chaotic mind My Bucket List Link to comment
161803398874989 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Your form almost definitely was off. 'Arching' your pushups causes the psoas (muscles in your hip) to fire, which have their origin in the spine. So you're pulling muscles you shouldn't pull during a pushup and end up with soreness in your back. Quare? Quod vita mea non tua est. You can call me Phi, Numbers, Sixteen or just plain 161803398874989. Link to comment
Bob-gar Posted May 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Thanks for all the responses guys.if you cross the point of your shoulder blades with your spine and then come down the spine a few inches, that's about where it is. I don't recall being out of form, but of course fatigue makes you lazy and lazy makes your form bad. I'll definitely keep an eye on it. If it doesn't get better today I'll be at the doc this weekend.Thanks again! "Being stronger will make you better in every conceivable aspect of your life, except of course being weaker." Fitocracy: https://www.fitocracy.com/profile/boudainFitBit: http://www.fitbit.com/user/297TR5RunKeeper: http://runkeeper.com/user/boudain/profile Link to comment
Denny Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Do you ever tighten your glutes when you do pushups? If not, you have bad form even if it doesn't feel like it. The glutes were the culprit when I had bad form before, I did everything except tighten my glutes and it didn't help. I have seen a lot of people doing pushups with bad form, even ripped guys, because they seem to think that all you need to do is focus on your upper body strength and their lower back arcs really bad despite the rest of the body being straight. -> Dead Athletes Don't Lie -> John Cleese on Creativity -> Digital addiction and the chaotic mind My Bucket List Link to comment
Corbab Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 I'll chime in on the poor form front—it's likely that setting a new per-workout max, you weren't doing 100% perfect pushups for every one.As far as dealing with it, just make sure you stretch the area well and that it's not causing you any sharp pain while your're working out. Foam/ball rolling might help, too, depending on whether it's overworked or got tweaked somehow. My rule for pain is to work through it and give it some time (obviously don't do that if it's really painful). Usually, even things that hurt day-to-day don't bother me during a workout. If it's not gone in a couple weeks, let a doctor or trainer check it out for you. Never think of pain or danger or enemies a moment longer than is necessary to fight them. -Ayn Rand Amongst those less skilled you can see all this energy escaping through contorted faces, gritted teeth and tight shoulders that consume huge amounts of effort but contribute nothing to achieving the task. Link to comment
Bob-gar Posted May 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 Thanks again guys. I'm pretty sure my form got sloppy, but I didn't realize that could cause these issues. I'm sure its that and a combination of things. The pain doesn't really bother me when I'm working out. Usually it'll be there kinda nagging me when I first start jogging. Its pretty much been consistent the past couple of days but putting a cold pack on it and having my wife rub the area helps a bunch. We'll see how it goes "Being stronger will make you better in every conceivable aspect of your life, except of course being weaker." Fitocracy: https://www.fitocracy.com/profile/boudainFitBit: http://www.fitbit.com/user/297TR5RunKeeper: http://runkeeper.com/user/boudain/profile Link to comment
SirEarl Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 I think I'm in the same boat.Does it hurt when you lay on a certain side and take a deep breath?As Corbab suggested, the foam/ball rolling really helps relieve the pain if it's the same thing I've got. "You don't life for be sad, no?" Link to comment
Bob-gar Posted May 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 I think I'm in the same boat.Does it hurt when you lay on a certain side and take a deep breath?ugh, yes! lol. Also when I sit in certain chairs, it'll feel like my back is spasming. Its definitely feeling a lot better today. I'm gonna have to grab one of those foam rollers "Being stronger will make you better in every conceivable aspect of your life, except of course being weaker." Fitocracy: https://www.fitocracy.com/profile/boudainFitBit: http://www.fitbit.com/user/297TR5RunKeeper: http://runkeeper.com/user/boudain/profile Link to comment
SirEarl Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 Ahhh. Well, I went to urgent care, because I'm only in town for the weekend. They told me it was most likely back spasms. Got x-rayed and everything. The lady just told me to take motrin/advil and continue to do the tennis ball/foam roller. "You don't life for be sad, no?" Link to comment
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