Skateboarding is a fun and popular activity enjoyed by people of all ages. Despite its reputation as a safe sport, skateboarding comes with a certain amount of risk of injury, and back pain is one of the most common complaints among skateboarders.
The back pain ruins your riding experience, and it can become a chronic condition if not treated properly. If you’re facing the same, it’s essential to understand the causes of back pain when skateboarding and how to prevent or treat it.
Whether you’re searching why does my lower back hurt when I skateboard or anything related to back pain, this article is dedicated to you. We’ll cover why back pain occurs while skateboarding with some useful tips to avoid or prevent it.
Can Skateboarding Cause Lower Back Pain?
Before diving into the reasons for back pain, let’s examine whether skateboarding can cause back pain.
The simple answer is, yes, skateboarding can cause lower back pain. If you’re new to skateboarding, you’re more likely to experience back pain because your body isn’t used to the repetitive motions and the impact on your joints and muscles.
Even if you’re an experienced skateboarder, you can still experience lower back pain from time to time. Anytime you fall or land awkwardly, you’re at risk of injuring your back.
So, now that we’ve established that skateboarding can cause lower back pain let’s look at some of the reasons why your lower back might hurt when you skateboard.
Why Does My Lower Back Hurt When I Skateboard?
There are a few reasons why your lower back might hurt when you skateboard. The most common reason is due to the repetitive motions required to skateboard.
Jumping, turning, and stopping are all common movements when skateboarding, and they can put a lot of strain on your lower back. This is especially true if you’re not used to the activities and your muscles are weak.
Another common cause of back pain when skateboarding is landing awkwardly after jumping or landing a trick. The impact can jar your spine and cause pain if you land on your back or tailbone.
Let’s see in detail some of the common reasons for back pain when skateboarding:
1. Repetitive Motions
As we mentioned, the repetitive motions required in skateboarding can put a lot of strain on your lower back, especially if you’re not used to them.
However, this is the sport’s nature, so with time, your muscles will adapt and become stronger, and the pain will disappear. In the meantime, you can try some stretches and exercises to help strengthen your back muscles.
2. Poor posture
Another common reason for back pain is poor posture. This is especially true when you’re just starting skateboarding. It’s easy to slouch when you’re riding, but this can put a lot of strain on your back.
Make sure to stand up straight and keep your shoulders back while skateboarding. This will help take the strain off your back and help prevent back pain.
3. Rotations
The rotational motions required for some skateboarding tricks can also cause back pain. Rotating your spine puts a lot of strain on the muscles and ligaments in your back.
If you’re new to skateboarding, start with simple tricks and gradually work up to the more advanced ones. This will help your body get used to the motions and reduce the risk of back pain.
4. Muscle Strains
Muscle strains commonly cause back pain in all sports, including skateboarding. The constant jumping, turning, and stopping can put a lot of strain on your muscles, and if they’re not properly conditioned, they can start hurting.
The best way to prevent muscle strains is to warm up before you skateboard and stretch your muscles afterward. This will help keep your muscles loose and reduce the risk of injury. You can also read what muscles does skateboarding work for more on this.
5. Spine Injury
Sometimes you might not know, but you already have an injury in your spine that can cause back pain when skateboarding. This is usually the case if you’ve had a previous injury to your back or if you have a condition such as arthritis.
If you have a spine injury, you must see a doctor before you start skateboarding. They can help you manage your pain and prevent further injury.
At last, there are some of the major reasons why your lower back hurts when skating. Furthermore, some preventive measures can be undertaken to avoid such pain. So, if you love skateboarding, don’t let back pain hold you back!
To avoid suffering from foot pain while skateboarding, you can read our previous article on why do my feet hurt when I skateboard.
Tips & Treatment To Avoid Lower back Pain When Skateboarding
Note that this tip works only if an injury does not cause pain. If you think you might have an injured spine, see a doctor before beginning any of the following tips.
1. Warm up your muscles before skating with some basic exercises like jogging in place, jumping jacks, or riding a bike.
2. Do some stretches specifically for your back before skateboarding. This will help loosen up your muscles and reduce the risk of injury.
3. Strengthen your back muscles with some simple exercises like sit-ups, crunches, and squats.
4. Improve your riding posture by standing up straight and keeping your shoulders back.
5. Take breaks often when skating, especially if you start to feel pain in your back.
6. Ice your back for 20 minutes after skating to reduce inflammation and pain.
7. See a doctor if the pain persists or gets worse. They can help you find the source of the pain and treat it accordingly.
Bonus Tip: Get the right skateboard. Yes, you heard it right. If you’re riding on the wrong skateboard size according to your height or foot size, it can still create lower back pain. Such as, if you’re 12, get the best skateboard for 12 year old only. It won’t work if you choose bigger or smaller than this.
You can avoid or reduce lower back pain from skateboarding using these tips.
Yes, it’s normal to be a little sore after skateboarding, especially if you’re new to the sport. The pain should go away after a day or two. If the pain persists or gets worse, see a doctor.
Yes, skateboarding does work out your back muscles. However, you must see a doctor before skateboarding if you have a pre-existing back injury.
No, skating is not necessarily bad for your back. However, if you have a pre-existing back injury or have the wrong riding posture, it might cause back pain and worsen the condition.
You can do a few stretches to stretch out your lower back. Get on your back and bring your knees close to your chest while lying on your back. You can also try doing a child’s pose in yoga or sitting on your heels with your arms stretched out in front of you.
Conclusion
Skateboarding is a great way to exercise, have a fun, commute, and explore your city. However, as you’ve seen, skateboarding can cause back pain if you’re not careful, so be cautious about that.
I hope you answer why my lower back hurts when I skateboard with this article and also get to know some tips & treatments to avoid lower back pain when skateboarding. Follow these tips and enjoy your skating without any pain!
I am James Buckridge, the founder of skateboardidea.com. Skateboarding is my passion, and I have years of teaching experience in this field. Our vision and mission is to provide you with accurate information on everything related to skateboarding. Catch me on Twitter & Pinterest.