preventative exercise?

[frustratedmom]

Can anyone recommend something to strengthen my lower back muscles to protect them when my knees get bad - have knee problems and even physio doesn't help. but tend to put my back out by subconsiously protecting my knees when they are bad. need to strengthen any ideas latest physio was about as much use as a swimming costume in a snow storm.

You shouldn't just concentrate in your lower back muscles you need to work on your whole core. Without knowing your fitness level I suggest changing your physio and seeing if you have a good local Pilates class.

Will admit currently have no fitness level. 6 years ago was doing 20hr/wk ice skating but then wrote knee off (needed surgery) and had to stop suddenly.

Thought about pilates before so will do that. as for changing physio tried but not possible on NHS have recommendation of a good local private one from GP to follow up.

Thanks for advice. Really appreciate the shoving in right direction

yoga aswell as pilates and some weights whilst stood on a balancing board.

sounds difficult and painful so will probably work

A woman instructor at my gym told me that she had had a similar problem (like you from a sport injury) and had discovered that her hamstrings had become shortened from walking in a sort of subconciuos crouching position for years.

She said that her shortened hamstrings had then led to her havng a lower back problem. She thought I had a similar problem

She gave me some excercies to stretch hamstrings and lower back muscle but also emphasised a set of 6 core back and abdominal muscle strengthening excercises. It worked.

Joining a gym and getting a good instructor to show you the right way to do excercises is a good thing to do. Expplaining you want to strengthen core muscles and that you have a back and knee problem wil help them design a safe routine for you.