NagoyaHammer.com

Thought this would be a good topic for here, considering the amount of bags we lug around.
I've seriously done my upper back and neck in. To the point where like dogs I cant look up. Most of it due to travelling with parents in golden week and general life stress I'm sure. It's got to be about the 4th or 5th time I've done this since coming to Japan. Floors, small chairs etc, painting and Internet use take their toll after a while. Low calcium in the diet?
Anyone else had back trouble since living here?

I've always had intermittent back trouble since I was in Uni, so I can sympathise. Take it easy and try not to carry too many heavy bags/boxes mate.

Sounds like common sense. Plastic models only for transport then. Forget the wooden boards.

There's not so much you can do about it at work, but at home make sure you have a decent chair to sit in. Don't sit on the floor if you can avoid it (occasionally is fine, of course). It's well worth buying a chair that is comfortable and fits your body size.* Having just a week ago been to visit a carpenter and discussing chairs (and tables) I can confirm that Japanese chairs are 3cm shorter than British ones. That doesn't seem a lot, but long term it'll screw up your back. Not lugging around huge great gaming bags helps, too

*where to buy such a thing: Nitori, Furniture Dome and other such emporia all sell adjustable office chairs. Cheap ones are rubbish, but a decent one can be damn comfy. Eg my games-room/painty chair was bought in Nitori for about 2man or so, I think.

Ps - exercise is a good idea, too. The back is basically a whole passel of muscles and ligaments and other such technical gubbins. Like the brain, if you train em, they get better at what they're supposed to do and less likely to stall when called upon.

I have zero back problems.

These are the things I do regularly.

1. Kettlebell swings twice a week. KBs aren't everybody's cup of tea but some kind of lower back/posterior chain work is good. Yoga is popular with lots of people.

2. Don't stoop when you walk. Stand up straight. Anytime I looked at the floor while walking or standing would get me a slap round the head from my father. Stomach tight, chest out!

3. Don't sit on the floor. Knackers your lower back.

4. Stand up as often as possible. I try to do all my lessons standing. When I'm at home I eat at my kitchen counter which I stand at. I sit on the sofa when I want to nod off.

Those are what spring to mind.

Stomach exercises are really good for your back. Keeping your stomach tight when sitting and standing puts pressure on your spine to maintain good posture.

Cheers lads. So where can I buy a kettleball?

ashmie wrote:Cheers lads. So where can I buy a kettleball?

KettlebEll, not kettlebAll.

I wouldnt go out and buy one mate, I would just get into the habit of regularly stretching and doing yoga first. Keep that up for a while, see how your back feels, and then maybe get one.