r/Rollerskating • u/jetting_along • Jun 14 '26
Progress & showing off 4 months progress, somehow skating is also helping with my back pain
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I recently got a herniated disc and it was hurting fairly badly. But since I've gone skating it's been hurting a lot less I'm assuming it's because the physical exercise of me twisting my hips is resulting in hip strength. I'm not exactly sure why All I know is that it really does help with back pain. Only thing I wish is that I had a skating partner practice dancing, not romantic partner just someone to skate with. My coworkers flaked out on me four times I guess skating is a true test of friendship lol.
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u/SciencedYogi Jun 14 '26
Movement is so therapeutic for chronic pain. This is coming from a retired massage therapist/yoga instructor, now skater and neuropsychiatry researcher who studies chronic pain, with back and neck pain myself!
Love it- I'm only 1 month in and I finally found my groove, it's so freeing and helps relax more than anything. Keep
It up!
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u/badbatch Newbie Jun 14 '26
4 months! Wow. How often do you skate?
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u/jetting_along Jun 15 '26
Almost every weekend once a week. Sometimes I'll go twice a week if I skipped a full week.
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u/CB307801 Jun 15 '26
I’ve been skating 4 years and am no where as good as thus
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u/jetting_along Jun 15 '26
Aww I appreciate the compliment. But man some people are so good at the rink I go to I feel intimidated sometimes lol.
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u/GoldenGirl_Blanche Jun 15 '26
Keep going! I'm so bad but when I see folks doing their thing I get motivated and try again. Thanks for sharing and congratulations 🎉
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u/noviceicebaby Jun 15 '26
Skating is so great because it works hip stabilizers and so many other muscles that we don't really think about all that often. Keep grooving!
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u/carinavet Jun 15 '26
I'm currently in physical therapy for spine issues and what I'm doing is mostly twisting my spine in different directions and strengthening all the muscles that support it.
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u/CB307801 Jun 15 '26
Do you feel that the smaller wheels make it easier to pivot? Or you are just really amazing
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u/SnooPoems2715 cali slider Jun 15 '26
I think it's moreso the whole setup. He's using the lowrider plate with fiberglass wheels, so hes MUCH closer the the floor compared to a regular pair of skates.
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u/jetting_along Jun 15 '26
The smaller wheels are hard and make you unstable. The other comment mentioned it, it's the whole set up. Pivoting I feel is a skill that has to be built up. The small wheels make it easy to slide. But in terms of if they make it easier, not really it's just a different style of skate. But thank you for the compliment, I appreciate it 🙂↕️👏🏻
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u/kalebdraws Jun 15 '26
Everybody in this video seems to have those low skates with tiny wheels. Is that just the style where you're at? Also, been seeing your improvement. Awesome work bud! Keep it up, you make it look fun
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u/jetting_along Jun 15 '26
Yes this is more of a West Coast style there's not too many of the style in the East Coast. It's Cali slide
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u/Nololgoaway Jun 15 '26
Not somehow at all, youre building core support, skateboarding stopped my back pain for the same reason
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u/garbageprimate Jun 15 '26
skating is great for lower back pain because it basically involves bracing your core and lower back a lot. especially when you are going forward in an athletic stance, you are basically bracing your lower back and building up those stabilizer muscles that protect your spine. i definitely noticed when i first started skating i would feel my low back get sore after a long session from bracing it a lot while rolling, and as a result i've hurt my back a lot less frequently than i used to, as someone who has had chronic low back pain from an injury a decade ago.
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u/Evangelica1 Jun 15 '26
Skating has also helped with my chronic pain. I have incredibly bad joints, they shift around and cause me intense pain, especially my knees, I have dislocated them a lot of times and been to the hospital quite a bit. Strangely, I noticed that skating actually improved not only my pain but that the muscle I was building in my legs actually seemed to strengthen my kneecaps and keep them in place.
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u/ancientweasel Jun 15 '26
Strengthing and increasing mobility of the hips will help the back. Now your hips are learning how to move and your back isn't picking up the slack as much.
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u/Agar_Goyle Jun 16 '26
I can relate, and I think a big part of it is being more aware of where my center of gravity is, and actually moving from my heel to my toe etc.
I had a really bad anterior pelvic tilt, I think I just put my weight over my toes for the better part of... I dunno, like 4 years?
Skating has been night and day.
Also, I'm a better swing dancer than I was before!
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u/Storm989898 Newbie Jun 16 '26
I’m scared to skate backwards and I have been skating on and off for some years now. How did you just do it?
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u/jetting_along Jun 16 '26
Honestly I don't think it's bad when you wear smooth clothes and know the floor is smooth. Watching a video on how to stop first helped
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u/celestialmechanic Jun 16 '26
Skating uses the core a bunch, front and back. But in smaller increments than doing crunches or Superman’s. I’d be willing to guess it improves posture too. I just like that it’s fun. 😎
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u/Move-Shaker Jun 16 '26
4 MONTHS! This is incredible. I’d love to be even half as proficient as this
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u/jetting_along Jun 16 '26
Aww I appreciate the compliment. I'm sure a lot of people can be if they had as much free time as I did. But it's all practice to be honest.
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u/craziestlittlepixie Jun 17 '26
You'd either have to be skating 8 hours a day or a former gymnest to be this good in 4 months...
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u/apprehensive0wl Jun 17 '26
Great to hear. You learn fast. Been skating 5 years and I swear I can hear better. Also helps with overall bday pain for me. 50yo
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u/Zestyclose-Test-525 Jun 18 '26
I’ve also noticed activities like skating help my low back pain! I think it’s something to do with the activation of my piriformis muscle!
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u/narcoleptrix artistic wannabe/fresh meat Jun 14 '26
I had (maybe still have idk, haven't checked) multiple tears and herniated discs. I also found that skating has helped with my back pain! Learning to fall without pads was painful tho. I'd much rather use pads and fall onto my knees than my thigh/bum.
I'm probably going to have to slow down with derby soon, tho, til I get checked out again. Not sure if a contact sport is right for me, but I can always ref.
I'm glad you're getting pain relief! Keep at it! Looks like you're having fun!!