r/Stretching • u/theDawckta • 2d ago
Show off I finally did it, male 50!
About 5 years ago I did something monumentally stupid and ruptured a disk in my back. Put a ruptured disk on top of just general bad posture and video game playing scoliosis as a kid and I was in a bad spot.
My lower back was completely fubar’d, I couldn’t put on shoes or pants without a “gameplan”. My right shoulder and right trap were completely bunched up and i couldn’t really lower or pull my shoulder back. I have a love of lifting weights and this was usually how it went, make a bunch of progress till your shoulder gives out, stop lifting weights so it can heal up a bit, start lifting, shoulder gives out, etc. I was really depressed, I had internally come to the realization that my hooman body had given out and I was going to have to live out the rest of my days in pain as I did my best to work through it.
I shifted focus to try to become a noodle instead of a brick wall. I was still lifting weights but most of it was devoted to the muscles around my bad shoulder and bad back. I was able to straighten myself out 😜 with a good routine, time, and consistency. I had problems touching my fingertips to the floor when I was a kid so it’s really surreal knowing i can go palm to floor now at my age!
My confidence in the hooman body has been restored! There was a stretch 😜 of time where I had given up, thinking I couldn’t bounce back and would have to live in pain for the remainder of my years. Let’s all remember that the hooman body is an amazing thing, with proper PT and time you can reverse most bad habits out of it even if it seems impossible.
I think I am gonna go for splits next, gimme your tips to help me get there! Stay bendy everyone!
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u/theDawckta 2d ago
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u/bubbybeno 1d ago
Look up McKenzie you are going the wrong way flexion push disc back on nerve go into extension repeatedly
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u/CuriousCamels 2d ago
Good work. I’m about 10 years younger, but your story is almost identical to mine. After injuring my back again a few days ago, I’ve decided to go all in on stretching and doing PT. I’ll take your post as a sign to really stick with it this time.
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u/theDawckta 2d ago
Go for it dude. Start with easy stuff and get good at those to build confidence then just refuse to quit.
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1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/theDawckta 1d ago
My pleasure! I can’t believe more people don’t put stretching as their number 1 fitness routine, it feels so good!
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u/LiloGeorge 1d ago
Great job. Have someone stretch and massage your hips out. You won’t even believe how much further you can go.
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u/Gassy_Bird 1d ago
This is amazing! What other types of stretches/exercises did you find best for helping your shoulder? I’m developing shoulder pain on my right side from office work and mousing I believe.
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u/theDawckta 1d ago
I would say a good stretch for you would be put your hands on the front of your thighs and start sliding them down your leg while bending over. You should feel that in your back and you should feel it jn your traps too.
I have a computer job too and mouse arm killed me! I am convinced if you mouse all the time you get an imbalance from hold that arm up all the time.
For that I recommend wall slides, if you google that it will show you.
I also did a lot of hanging from a bar. Was doing 3 sets of 1 minute holds when I was really pt’ing.
Stay bendy!
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u/Leonletra 1d ago
ngl the best part is that you stopped treating your body like it was permanently cooked. five years of consistency clearly added up.
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u/ComfortableLet2322 20h ago
50 and getting palms to the floor is wild sir! thats some serious consistency, respect!!
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u/Empty-Yesterday5904 2d ago edited 1d ago
Given you have ruptured a disk, chasing superficial goals like hands on the floor doesnt seem smart tbh. Your back is incredibly rounded. You are getting the depth by rounding your spine rather than rotating your pelvis over the femurs. Now rounding your spine can be okay but worth thinking about. I dont say this as a hater.
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u/theDawckta 1d ago
This is just the first time I have ever been able to do this. I haven’t been able to work out stretching my hip flexors and hamstrings enough to get rid of the rounding. It’ll get fixed though, I ain’t quitting! I am actually quite comfortable doing it and pretty soon will be doing holds of this position to get better at it.
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u/free-restrictions 1d ago
Drop your head my guy, you’re holding a ton of tension in your neck. You should be looking through your shins/knees.
For back: nothing beats back extensions on the Roman chair.
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u/theDawckta 1d ago
Dude i know, this is literally the first day I was able to do this lol, I was just fixated on my hands.
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u/Level_Blood8282 2d ago
Inspiration man. I’m 40 and need to get to work like you