Low Back and Knee Pain

[Leon Rraci]

Hi, when I sit on a chair, my lower back starts to hurt. It is never sore after deadlifts or squats but I feel it being worked. The next day it is not sore. I feel like I kinda damaged it when form broke down while deadlifting. No pain when squatting or deadlifting, it just hurts when I sit on a chair.
As for the knees, they only hurt when I stay cross legged sitted on a chair in my PC so that means that the lower back and knees hurt at the same time. Again, no pain in knees when squatting or deadlifting just when staying sitted like that. Only thing that helps with low back pain is when I put a pillow behind my back. As for knees, when they straight they’re fine. Could it be that I am spending too much sitting in a position which my body doesn’t like and they got damaged because of the bad position they were put for 5h a day for the last couple of years. Thanks!

[Austin Baraki]

Your back is not damaged from a perceived form breakdown while deadlifting, or from sitting in a chair. Your back is OK. You will be OK.

https://startingstrength.com/article/aches-and-pains

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDurZ3SS8NE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FXOcnJ1klI

[Sean Herbison]

I know I've said this before, but thanks for putting out that content, Austin. Not only has it helped me personally, it's given me a better way of explaining the concept to people I coach.

I just worked with someone this morning that was incredibly concerned about his lower back (thanks, doctor who told him deadlifting would wreck his back! /s), even though he had a pretty solid lumbar position already. I think by the end of the session, I'd convinced him he's fine, and that's probably going to be more valuable for his health and progress (and piece of mind) than any form improvements we worked on.

[Austin Baraki]

I know I've said this before, but thanks for putting out that content, Austin. Not only has it helped me personally, it's given me a better way of explaining the concept to people I coach.

I just worked with someone this morning that was incredibly concerned about his lower back (thanks, doctor who told him deadlifting would wreck his back! /s), even though he had a pretty solid lumbar position already. I think by the end of the session, I'd convinced him he's fine, and that's probably going to be more valuable for his health and progress (and piece of mind) than any form improvements we worked on.

This makes me happy. I'm glad you've gotten so much benefit from it, man.

There's still lots more on this to come as I keep working through the literature!