In the new anime Gachiakuta, the protagonist Rudo appears to have endured significant hardships even though he’s extremely young. One of the hardships that stood out was an injury that visibly affects his hands. The anime portrays him managing this injury with bandages and gloves, and they appear to allow him to function and use his hands normally. However, such solutions aren’t really available to us in real-life, the answers are often more complex. For many over 25 hitting the gym dealing with nagging injuries, like low back pain, can be a major obstacle to consistency and progress.
Statistics reveal that up to 80% of Americans have dealt with or are currently dealing with low back pain, and 26% are affected at any given moment. As someone who has experienced low back pain, from daily life and athletic endeavors, the persistent discomfort can severely diminish motivation and impact your everyday life. Low back pain makes it difficult to sustain workouts which decreases the odds that you’ll achieve desired results. The key to overcoming this obstacle lies in understanding the root causes and implementing targeted solutions.
One common culprit behind low back pain is tight or weak hip flexors. Prolonged sitting shortens these muscles, leading to tightness, which in turn can contribute to discomfort and dysfunction in the lower back. If neglected, tight hip flexors can weaken over time, exacerbating issues and hindering movement.
To combat this, I recommend two simple corrective exercises: the Psoas Sit-up and the Standing Hip Flexor Pull. These are designed to strengthen and lengthen hip flexors, reducing pain and improving mobility. Check out the videos for proper technique:
Remember, injury management is about sustainability. Whether or not tight hip flexors are your issue, addressing functional weaknesses and tightness fosters long-term health and progress. Stay proactive, and your fitness journey becomes less about setbacks and more about resilience.
