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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Back Hurts during Basketball
Gabriel Hernandez, Photographer
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Harlingen | TX | USA | Posted: 1:41 AM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> Hey everyone quick question ...My lower back hurts everytime I shoot basketball. Does anyone have a good solution like a chair or something??? Or should I just go to a doctor to get it checked?? I sit indian style on the base line with two cameras. My legs fall asleep quick too. Is this a bad thing or am I the only one experiencing this thing?? Thanks for your help. |
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Wade Barker, Student/Intern, Photographer
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College Station | TX | USA | Posted: 2:14 AM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> I picked up a stadium seat at Academy for $13.99, does wonders for the back and the legs falling asleep. |
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Travis Morisse, Photographer
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Louie Traub, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Las Vegas | NV | United States | Posted: 3:22 AM on 12.06.06 |
->> I've got the same problem during basketball, plus I've got a bad back so sitting like that doesn't help matters.
Thanks for the links, everyone. I'll probably end up picking up one of those folding chairs. |
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Joe Livingston, Photographer
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Douglasville | GA | USA | Posted: 11:07 AM on 12.06.06 |
->> I would have your back checked either way if you are having pain or any discomfort at all please do yourself a favor and have it checked, dont wait until its really bad to deal with it.
After an accident left me paralyzed for days then 2 major back surgeries, more nerve blocks than I can count and artificial disc replacement I need all the help I can get with back support, I cant imagine sitting on the court ever again without the versa-flex, until then I was using the regular soft stadium seat from walmart. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 11:43 AM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> boy it's funny how things jack up in price over the years (no this isn't off topic). that versaflex chair looks exactley like the chair some dude in maryland invented back in the 80's for basketball shooters. it was about $35. off course it didn't have that fancy doodad holder on the back....hmmmmaybe that's worth $50...anyway here on the "right coast" most everyone who uses a seat at basketball uses the soft foldable camp chairs. there is a two fold reason for that. one..sometimes (just sometimes mind you) the referees will be wandering around before the game and they don't have any problem with seeing all the "flat" camp chairs. but they see one of the older (yup a couple of folks still have their old model BB seats) type and it puts up a red flag. granted it's only happened a couple of times but it has happened, they were told they couldn't use them because they posed a "danger"....like the espn guy on his rolling chair with camera isn't (but that's another story). the second reson is here in acc country there is NO room on the baselines and it is much better to have a seat where you will roll or flop over when a player comes out of bounds and clobbers you than one that is rigid and will snap like a twig when a 230 pounder lands on you and your gear. personally I have found their is more of an adjustment range to the camp chair also. you can cinch up the straps on the side to give you better support or loosen it. but yeah I wouldn't even think about covering a whole game without my seat. I'd probably be crippled after the game. |
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Jean Finley, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Iowa City | IA | USA | Posted: 11:55 AM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> I never shoot BB without my CrazyCreek! Best 15$ I ever spent. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 1:14 PM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> I use a folding soft stadium seat during the game. Post game/pain - a Hot Springs spa. It's a miracle worker. |
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John Petrovic, Photographer
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Olathe | KS | | Posted: 2:05 PM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> I bought a chair that looks like the crazy creek at Wal-Mart a while back....works great |
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Dave Prelosky, Photographer
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Lower Burrell | Pa | US | Posted: 3:00 PM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> I've got the same thing John does, and it was great till my fat a** physique broke the plastic parts. Makes a case for weight loss, better equipment and physical therapy to releive back pain. |
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Jeff Martin, Photographer
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wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 3:17 PM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> Gabriel, try doing 50 sit ups a day. Even if you have to start at 10 per set you should see/feel some improvement in a couple of weeks. I know it's counter intuitive to work on your abs to make your back feel better. Run it by a trainer at one of the games you do. Jeff |
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Al Santos, Photographer
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Silver Spring | MD | USA | Posted: 3:34 PM on 12.06.06 |
->> The Versa-Flex looks comfy as heck but it looks too bulky. I normally take the subway to the arena, maybe a bit big to strap on a TT airport security roller. May just stick with my thermarest chair.
Like Jeff said, sit ups/crunches does wonder for back pain. |
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Thomas E. Witte, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Fashion Heights | OH | USA | Posted: 3:56 PM on 12.06.06 |
->> Gabriel-
It's possible that you could have sciatica. I've had two bouts with it the past two autumns due to sitting in airline seats believe it or not. If it hurts on one (or both) of those little nubs just to the side of your tail bone and you're having any numbness/pain down you leg, chances are that could be the culprit. Key word is "chance" since it could just be that you're squishing a nerve.
Oddly enough the best treatment is walking or laying down. That Mr. Obvious remedy could easily apply to you even if you don't have sciatica though, but the bottom line (hehe, double whammy pun) is that you need more cushion for your cushion. |
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Mark Smith, Photographer
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Elk City | OK | USA | Posted: 4:43 PM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> On the same theme as the last few posts, also, stretch your back and hamstrings for several minutes every day. Another culprit is a wallet in your back pocket. Sitting on that for hours tilts your lower back out of alignment. |
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Robert Beck, Photographer
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Carlsbad | CA | USA | Posted: 4:48 PM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> Are you married? |
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Nick Wright, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Thomas E. Witte, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Fashion Heights | OH | USA | Posted: 5:03 PM on 12.06.06 |
->> "Are you married?"
Robert, it's a pain in his back, not his ass. |
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Aric Becker, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 5:14 PM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> That's the cause of the pain in my ass. Thanks Thomas. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 5:17 PM on 12.06.06 |
| ->> hey mark...if he's married he probably doesn't have a wallet anymore (just kiddin' ladies) |
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Carl Auer, Photographer
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Eagle River | AK | USA | Posted: 5:29 PM on 12.06.06 |
->> Gabriel, I agree with Thomas, but I also have just a bad back (comes from high school athletics and a very bad car accident about 4 years ago). The Versa-Flex is on my list to get, but I like trying things out before ordering them. WalMart in my area use to carry plain old bleacher seat for under $10. One would get me through basketball season and then be great for little league baseball (kids love their bubble gum). But now they only carry stadium seats with arm rests and cup holders (not that I would not mind sitting court side with a beer), and those just will not work. I paid for it during the Great Alaska Shootout this year after 2,3, or 4 games in a row.
But besides a chair, you can also do preventative measures to help prior to the game. Stretch out prior to tip off. Loosen up the muscles in your back and legs and arms. Also, during the game take a break during media time outs or between quarters and stretch. Shoot from areas that you do not need to sit all the time if you can. Look for angles that you may not normally think of. Your body is important so you want to make sure that you are physically able to get the images that you need to. |
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Gabriel Hernandez, Photographer
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Harlingen | TX | USA | Posted: 12:33 AM on 12.07.06 |
| ->> Thanks everyone, No Im not married, and I will try out one of the chairs that you guys suggested .... Ill also get my back checked just in case ,.... thanks again for the help. |
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Mark Almond, Photographer
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Birmingham | AL | USA | Posted: 3:30 AM on 12.07.06 |
| ->> I recommend the Versa-Flex chair also. It is a little awkward to carry but it can dissasembled and carried flat without too much trouble. I shot two basketball games last night with no pain in the back or backside. Wish I could say the same for a bad knee. |
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Dave Prelosky, Photographer
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Lower Burrell | Pa | US | Posted: 6:54 AM on 12.07.06 |
->> Did I mention that I spent a few weeks on my back after a pinched nerve diagnosis? Going bonkers watching the History Channel until one nightl I got to the History of the Loadinhg Dock and decided no matter what it was time to get back to work?
In any event, there are probably multilpe systems, but try finding the McKenzie program for back problem relief. The idea behind situps, crunches, and hamstring stretches is to build core (read trunk or abdomen) strength to increase stability.
One exercise that offered me quick relief is this:
Lie on your back
Pull yout knees toward the chest, keeping the feet flat on the floor
Roll your legs sidewaways, trying to keep the feet flat.
repeat about 10x each way.
Remember that I'm not a physician, physical therapist, or certified trainer. If you don't get better or get relief get professional help. |
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David Saffran, Photographer
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Staten Island | NY | USA | Posted: 9:03 AM on 12.07.06 |
| ->> The best thing to do is take your wallet out of your back pocket. My PT told me this about 5 years ago. It helps out alot. Your wallet puts added pressure on your lower back and the pain and discomfort comes quicker. I also use the basketball chair. Hope this helps you out. |
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Jody Gomez, Photographer
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Murrieta | CA | USA | Posted: 8:36 PM on 12.07.06 |
->> I had a tumor in my spinal cord removed 16 years ago (July 23). In order to get to the tumor site, they did a tri-level laminectomy at L4-5 - S, then actually cut open the sack that covers the spinal cord. The tumor was in with the spinal cord nerves, and was 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. I walked around for three years before my surgery with pain and sciatica so bad that I couldn't straighten my legs and sometimes couldn't walk. The worst part about it was that none of the doctors believed that I was in pain because my x-rays were clear, so I lived like this for three years with no pain medication, and was accused several times of trying to get drugs for recreational purposes (you wouldn't believe some of the things doctors say to young people who have back pain). It finally took a royal temper tantrum in front of an ER doctor for me to get an MRI, which diagnosed the tumor. Of course I was treated with a whole different attitude after that... It's been 16 years since my surgery, and my spine is now twisting and collapsing because I was not given a spinal fusion to support my lower back when they did the laminectomy.
Anyway, the point to my story is that I learned to live with back pain, and deal with it everyday. The tricks I've come up with are this:
1. Stay as fit and active as possible.
2. Stay as thin as possible.
3. When shooting in cool weather, put one of those Thermal Packs on your back to keep it warm and prevent the muscles from spasming (these are truly a God-send).
4. Wear hip length jackets in the winter that cover your butt. This makes a huge difference in how your back feels at the end of the night.
5. Use proper lifting and carrying techniques - be sure to use the chest strap on backpacks.
6. Make sure you have something to lean back on when sitting (I didn't do this while shooting basketball at SSA III and I was in a ton of pain after the game was over)
7. Always use a monopod. I use one with my 70-200 (quit laughing)! I get laughed at all the time, but even that little bit of weight held out in front of you makes a difference.
8. Change positions frequently. It helps prevent the legs from going numb.
In my case, I can't stretch my back at all because my spine is too unstable. Chiropractors are no help to me either - I had one that actually had to undo the adjustment he made because I couldn't move (due to pain) when he put me in the "right" position.
Cheers.
Jody |
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Greg Perry, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Huntington | WV | USA | Posted: 11:14 AM on 12.08.06 |
->> Jody--
I can identify with you. Just had a tumor removed from L2-3 area in January of this year. And now, it is back (pun intended), so here we go again.
Everything you said is spot-on.
I'll reserve other comments to email. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 5:16 PM on 12.09.06 |
->> OK, I looked at the recommendations and opted for the $35 Back Jack. I used it at a game today and it was great.
I can't imagine what the Versa Flex offers that's worth an extra $50, short of an undocumented shiatsu massage feature. Can a Versa Flex user clue me in on the secret? |
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Thom Kendall, Photographer, Assistant
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Sunderland | MA | USA | Posted: 12:01 PM on 12.10.06 |
->> Gabriel,
Gotta go with Steve Russell's suggestion of the Therma-Rest chair...
Ronald Martinez of Getty let me try his out for a bit at the Big 12 Tournament last March, and I was hooked. I'm using one now, and basketball is not an uncomfortable experience any more...
It was certainly one of the best purchases I've made in a while.
Thom |
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Abel Longoria, Photographer
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Houston | Tx | USA | Posted: 11:05 AM on 12.11.06 |
->> defintely a padded cushion with a back support will work wonders.
after my first bball game without one i was very sore the next day. my lower back flat out killed me from sitting on the baseline all game long.
the next game was only a couple of days away so i didnt have time to purchase one of the seats mentioned above but it did find one at Academy for about $14 that plenty of padding on the seat and on the back and it made a world of difference.
give it a try and keep us informed. |
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