Hey all,

I was wondering... I injured my back in a car accident when I was 16, leaving me with two compression fractures on (in?) my lower spine. I am now 23. I am mostly uneducated on physical fitness, personal health, and/or training my body. Most of my questions I'm confident I can research and find the answers for either on previously posted topics on these forums or somewhere else, but I'm not sure what I should or shouldn't do (regarding training my body) with my back problem. My only option as far as I've been told by any doctors is to get some pretty involved surgery - which still carries the risk of not helping (about 50%). I would like to get in better physical condition though. I am not overweight by any standard, but I would like to become more bulky muscular-wise. I am sure I can probably learn what I need to know by researching and reading content already present on these forums, but I'm unsure of a couple things. My main concern is my stomach muscles. I have tried straight-forward sit-ups but since my spine, instead of being straight, is at a 30 degree outward angle RIGHT where my back bends when I do sit ups, it is very painful. Take your knuckle and press it on a table with a little bit of strength and move your knuckle back and forth - it's *sort of* like that. Is there a safe and effective way to build my stomach muscles? Maybe situps aren't even ideal these days... Anyone have any advice?

Thanks
-Scott

Have you tried doing it on a medicine ball. You can make your body already on a decline, only needing maybe even 10 degrees flexion to stabilise your trunk - working yoru abdomen. Of with weights in two hand raised in the air to your top left and lower them to your bottom right.

It may also be worth the time and money to go see a good physical therapist. A PT may be able to help you build the framework, in terms of muscle and stability, that will protect your back and allow you to continue your training program in earnest.

yep thats right