Back Problem

[lobster]

I do a lot of diving and think my 16 kilos of lead is taking its toll on my lower back. Any suggestions?

[AM1]

Yes mate it's very common if the weight is in the wrong place, especially long decos on the rebreather, you end up with banana back. I have tried loads of configurations in the past to find the optimal weight rigging, it takes time but it's worth doing.

Drop me a pm and I'll see if I can help.

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by lobster

I do a lot of diving and think my 16 kilos of lead is taking its toll on my lower back. Any suggestions?

I take it your current rig is a single cylinder and a weight belt.



You could do several things......first...try to redistribute your weight.....weights on a tank band...or clipped off take the weight off the weight belt.

Or

Switch to a wing and harness.....this gets rid of a lot of weight from the belt providing you set it up right.

[Timbo]

Get a membrane suit ,,,
Buy a harness,,,
Buy loads of negatively bouyant trick bits ,,,
Doo a bouyancy course,,,,

====loose the lead !!

Good article in last months BSAC magazine ????

[colinicky]

Originally Posted by Timbo

Get a membrane suit ,,,

Sorry but disagree ,it depends on the suit ,I went from a Membrane to a Dui Neoprene & lost 1kg of lead .

Also look at what undersuit you have ,if it's big & bulky it needs more lead to sink you .You might be better & as warm using an Artic Extreme & lose some lead .

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by colinicky

Sorry but disagree ,it depends on the suit ,I went from a Membrane to a Dui Neoprene & lost 1kg of lead .

Also look at what undersuit you have ,if it's big & bulky it needs more lead to sink you .You might be better & as warm using an Artic Extreme & lose some lead .

Don,t apologise,,, your right,, but on the whole with the same underwear a neo usually needs a bit more ???
A loose fitting membrane can have more pockets of trapped air giving the user the impression that he needs more brick onboard,,,,,,
When I changed from my trusty Roho to an Otter Britt ( a far heavier suit ) I also needed an extra kilo ,,,
Strange eh??
An experienced buddy of mine recently did a bouyancy course and now dives 3 kilo's lighter !!!

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by lobster

I do a lot of diving and think my 16 kilos of lead is taking its toll on my lower back.

No it isn't.

The tank might do but the lead is round your middle and doesn't stress your back one iota. Buy a harness and move the weight to your shoulders if you want to stress your back or, do what most of the people who complain about back problems do, bend over to lift your tanks.

[David]

Originally Posted by AM1

Yes mate it's very common if the weight is in the wrong place, especially long decos on the rebreather, you end up with banana back. I have tried loads of configurations in the past to find the optimal weight rigging, it takes time but it's worth doing.

Drop me a pm and I'll see if I can help.

she is right
but It would help if the conversation was on here and not in private :-)

I used to have the same problem diving in the uk with 12 kilos and a single. I had 12kg all on the belt just by moving 4kg in two 2kg lumps to the top band one either of the buckle. leaving just 8kg on the belt was enough to stop my back problems.

moving to a wing nailed the problem, but was later

David

[AM1]

That's bollocks - of course weight round your middle stresses your back, it pulls it into extension, which puts pressure on the disks, especially if the lower back muscles are weak, end result - mechanical back pain. Of course, there could be an underlying disk problem already and the weight is aggravating it, but most divers I know have had low back pain at one time or another while diving.

Harnesses are not always the answer but distributing the weight evenly in other places will certainly help.

[Brian of Aquanauts]

Personally I found that working on core strength, back muscle exercises, situps etc totally got rid of all the lower back pain I used to suffer. It took about 2 months but I haven't had a single issue in the last year and I used to get lower back pain every month or so.

Arching my back alot while diving seems to help as it keeps those back muscles active.

Back pain is a really pisser, chiropracters can do alot to relieve pain after 1 or 2 sessions.