Lower Back Pain and Ice skating

Question
Dear Pat,
I started learning ice skating 5 months ago. for some reason I had a serious lower back pain and I stopped practicing. Now I feel ok and I would like to stark my exercise at the rink. I am wondering if ice skating can make any problem for my back or not.
I would be so appreciated if you could lead me on this matter.
Thanks,
Mona

Answer
Hi Mona,
  Because I'm not a doctor I'm only guessing that the pain you felt could possibly have been caused because you are using different muscles to keep good posture when you ice skate.  With skating posture is important but it also puts a strain on muscles that you normally don't use for walking etc.  If your tense and trying to keep good posture, the combination of the two could create lower back pain.

 If the pain is now gone but starts again once you start skating, I would definitely visit a sports doctor to verify what's causing it.  You would hate to ignore something that could possibly be serious or not related to skating at all.  It's always best to get a professionals opinion rather than just assume it's  nothing.  He/she will advise you whether it's skating related or if there's another underlying cause.

  Good Luck and be smart.  It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Pat

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Answering your follow up question of: I want to know whether ice skating can be an exercise which helps back pain? (Like swimming, Aerobic exercises?)

Again, I can't answer this question because I'm not your doctor and I don't know what would be best for your situation.  I didn't realize that you had already had treatments for you back problems.  What's good for one person may not be good for another.  I would highly suggest you have your doctor answer that question.  My first thoughts were, I've heard doctors recommend water therapy and aerobic therapy for strengthening the back but I've never heard them recommend skating as therapy.  <g>