Leg Strength Training and Toning With Lower Back Issues

[Anonymous]

Is anyone aware of a leg strength training and toning program that can be done with mild lower back disc issues? Or, if you have lower back disc issues, how do you train your legs?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

See a PT and they can help you find exercises that are safe. I would not take anonymous advice online about this.

But I will say this: likely you need to be working more on your core than your legs, as core strength is the key stabilizer for dealing with lower back problems. Once your core is strong, it will be easier to do leg strengthening exercises without risking lower back injury or re-injury.

But, again, talk to a PT. Even if I gave you a list of exercises to do, it's useless for someone with your issues if you don't have a professional who can check your form and make any adjustments to make sure you are protecting your back.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I'm in PT and would clear anything with her. I just didn't know if there were books or other training protocols about for people with the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! I'm in PT and would clear anything with her. I just didn't know if there were books or other training protocols about for people with the issue.

With a disc issue, I would't trust a book or other resource. Tell your PT that you want to do more leg strengthening and toning and see what she suggests. It also depends a lot on what you want to target. It also kind of depends what your goals are. Like if I was going to focus on my legs without regard towards a lower back concern, I'd probably do some combo of running/climbing cardio (short sprints, stair climbs, maybe dance class) and then targeted strength exercises that incorporated squats and lunges, with and without weights, and including stuff like split squats. But I have no idea what of that would make sense with the current condition of your back -- some PTs would give a hard no to any kind of running with a slipped disc until you meet certain strength goals, and some squat and lunge variations would likely be fine but others not a good idea, and how much weight you used would be extremely dependent on the individual.

If you want, look up some leg exercises that target your goals and then take them to your PT and ask if you can be cleared for them, or if she suggests alternatives. She's your best resource right now though.