Back Injuries from One Armed Dumbell Lifts

Discussion in 'Strength & Conditioning Discussion' started by Todd Gack, Nov 16, 2005.

  1. Throw it to Lucas! No, don’t throw it to Blye!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2003
    Messages:
    53,357
    Likes Received:
    6,582
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Guys, for some reason I seem prone to tweaking my back when doing heavy one armed dumbell lifts, especially snatches and cleans (Rows, presses and swings are ok). It seems to happen more when I'm lifting with my right arm though. I checked my form and it looks fine, my lifting buddy said it looked good as well so I'm pretty much at a loss here.

    I went to see a chriopractor and he suggested I stop doing these kinds of lifts altogether. Just wanted to get some input from you guys though and see if any of you have had the same problem.
     
  2. killer_kicks88 Green Belt

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2004
    Messages:
    1,140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Awesomeville
    funny you should mention, i always get back pain when doing these with ONLY my right arm, it's pain on the right side of my back also, i think it's important to mention that have a fused spine, but still, this is one of the few lifts that i thought i COULD do but i always injure myself
     
  3. Throw it to Lucas! No, don’t throw it to Blye!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2003
    Messages:
    53,357
    Likes Received:
    6,582
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Weird. I usually get the pain in the middle of my back and I'm unable to lift anything for a couple of days. I also seem to get some pain when I twist my torso.
     
  4. Noskill Created Monkey

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2003
    Messages:
    694
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    In Schrödinger's box
    Take my advice for what it'S worth, I'm no doctor, but in Judo we do alot of one armed pulling (turning to the side in hip throws) and I injured my back from too much of that kind of explosive work (it's pretty heavy trying to pull a guy your size forward and to the side to load him on your hips). It turned out that I had a muscular unbalance between my right intercoastals and my left (muscles in the back that help twisting it). It's the stronger muscle that hurted.
    Based from past experience either you should give up those one armed pulls, or you should start doing more volume for the side that doesn'T hurt. It should be the weaker side.

    If you decide to let it rest, don't give up abwork though, it has helped my recovery. At that time I could only do planks, the other stuff hurted too much. Now planks are for me a cornerstone of any rehab routine when I hurt my back, which has happened a few times but never lasted very long.

    my 2 cents
     
  5. killer_kicks88 Green Belt

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2004
    Messages:
    1,140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Awesomeville
    I'm not trying to be mean AT ALL so please understand this, i just wanted to correct you, it's hurt, not hurted...please don't take this as a flame
     
  6. -V-MuayThai-V- Banned Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2005
    Messages:
    80
    Likes Received:
    0
    i noticed that when my lower back gets sore it's almost always mostly on the right side.... i did some stiff leg deadlifts the other day and i barely felt anything on the left side of my lower back, but the right side was so stiff..... same thing when i do hyperextensions..... my left side is much weaker than my right side, should i do some extra sets on the left side or what?
     
  7. PikeKing White Belt

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2005
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Wilts, UK
    start doing single leg RDLs
     
  8. Throw it to Lucas! No, don’t throw it to Blye!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2003
    Messages:
    53,357
    Likes Received:
    6,582
    Location:
    Vancouver
    I was thinking it may be an imbalance but I'm not sure which muscle groups. It could be the intercostals though.
     
  9. dexter c Borderline anorexic

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    Messages:
    1,830
    Likes Received:
    0
    Arent intercostals the muscles between the ribs?
     
  10. SmashiusClay Avatar of Cyttorak

    Joined:
    May 27, 2005
    Messages:
    6,442
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    England
    Thats what I wass thinking, arent they the muscles that help you brethe out by contracting the ribcage?
     
  11. PariahCarey Purple Belt

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2005
    Messages:
    2,221
    Likes Received:
    0
    Stop training for a bit. Come back with very light weight and slow and controlled movements for both sides. Then gradually work back up to heavy weight at a normal rthym. My left side was weaker once for my bench so i did this now i'm pretty balanced.
     
  12. Throw it to Lucas! No, don’t throw it to Blye!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2003
    Messages:
    53,357
    Likes Received:
    6,582
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Yes, but the site isn't always the source.
     
  13. rickdog Purple Belt

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2003
    Messages:
    1,973
    Likes Received:
    0
    Sonny, check your inbox........ Thanks!
     
  14. dexter c Borderline anorexic

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    Messages:
    1,830
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah, I wasnt meaning that to be a point. It was just a question to make sure I was thinking about the right thing.
     
  15. Throw it to Lucas! No, don’t throw it to Blye!

    Joined:
    May 19, 2003
    Messages:
    53,357
    Likes Received:
    6,582
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Oh, sorry man.
     
  16. Duncon76 Blue Belt

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2005
    Messages:
    613
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    For imbalances the trick is to work your weaker side more OR harder, but NOT work the stronger side more or harder..
     
  17. pie`n`mash White Belt

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2005
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    0
    Heres my 2 cents, dont do an exercise if it is counter productive, weightlifting at its best is a supplement to an MMA pre-fight program, the whole idea of an exercises is to strengthen a particular area and if you are getting injured and are unable to train then your not getting stronger, by all means percevere for a time, vary the loads, back off on the volume, periodise etc but if at the end of the day it isnt working then dont do it.
     

Share This Page

X
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.