Comment

Comment by Julie on August 4, 2009 at 6:47am

I have been doing a ot of pilates so alot of these exercises are great, but am very cautious when modifications for people with back problems are not included, as you are never too sure whether to try or not. I have had a operation to remove part of a disc in the past and need some exercises to stretch my lower back and hips as i find I am fine but restrct my horse at canter somehow, which must be one or the other! love this site!

Comment by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on August 3, 2009 at 10:00pm

Hi Julie, good point. Most of my clients with bad backs modify the exercise by starting on the floor on their stomach, and only lifting the back very slightly. The catch 22 with a bad back is that it is made worse when muscles in the area are insufficiently strong to support you....and the problem is that with a bad back one has to be so careful with exercises, that many people end up not exercising the back at all. With a bad back, get some modifications from a physiotherapist, or try very small back raises on the floor, and only do a few. If there were no issues the next day, you can try adding some more. Better to do very few on a daily basis and increase strength incrementally, than to do too much at once. Planks are excellent exercises for the back because they strengthen it without much movement. If you're riding, you definitely need to strengthen the erector spinae and quadratus lumborum muscles (lower back, and muscles running up alongside your spine), or you are placing your spine at risk for damage due to insufficient support when you're riding and creating a lot of movement in it.

Comment by Julie on July 30, 2009 at 5:40pm

Whoa - where is the bad back warning! this would injure me!

Comment by Jennifer Lamm on July 30, 2009 at 5:30pm

Just what I need!! Thanks Heather.

Comment by Barnmice Admin on July 28, 2009 at 4:47pm

Fabulous video, Heather!

Comment by Frankie & the Equicizer on July 28, 2009 at 4:22pm

Thank you Heather! Looks like your getting the hang of the video thing!
Great Job
Frankie

Comment by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on July 28, 2009 at 2:17pm

Hi Gail-- that's great! I have a blog here too: Ride Fit 1-2-3 in the dropdown blog menu. I added some info there about core, but if you have specific questions, by all means post them to the last blog entry (today), so I can answer them in the next blog. (photos of your riding would be a bonus but not necessary)

Comment by Gail Morse on July 28, 2009 at 2:04pm

Hi Heather: Good ones I have not seen before! I have a wall, a ball and weights so I should try them. Thanks for that and please keep them coming. All the exercises I have done for core strengthening have been done on my back with a pelvic tilt plus weights. Gail Morse.