Replies to This Discussion

StudentPermalink Reply by Rika on September 24, 2012 at 8:39am

I tore soft tissue in my lower back at the beginning of last year.  That was after having a horrible looong bout of mono, so I hadn't been hooping for a long time.  Desperate to get back to it, I ordered Hoop Girl's book on hooping just to have SOME semblance of hooping in my life.  In there, I read a bunch of testamonials from doctors and other health professionals about hula hooping, particularly for the back.

So, once I was healed enough to be up and about, I started very gently hooping.  However, if I compare that to now, when I've done about an hour of vigorous excercise/practice with the hoop, even with proper stretching, I can have some soreness.

What's I'm trying to get at here is that I think it depends on what you're doing with the hoop.  My suggestion would be to try to take it easy with the hoop.  Don't do a lot of off the bodies.  Just try to let it gently roll over your spine.  Try to get into some slow hooping if you can.  See if that makes any difference.

Basically, i think it depends a lot on *how* you are hooping and how your body is responding.  You should also take 10 minutes or so to slowly warm up your muscles before full on hula hooping and make sure to stretch plenty afterwards.

Also, I am so not a doctor, so take this for what it's worth.  Oh!  And if you haven't tried it, rub some Arnica cream over where it hurts.  It is magical.

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Permalink Reply by Annahoops on September 24, 2012 at 8:55am

Thank you for replying.  I will try slow hooping more.. I have commitments through October and then I will take a break unless I can work out a payment plan with the specialist she refereed me to before then.  I teach classes 3 times a week and I would hate to have to refund everyone that has already paid or to find them another teacher.  I am def. going to look into Arnica Cream.  Thank you again!

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Permalink Reply by Allyssa on September 24, 2012 at 10:09am

Seems like your situation is pretty similar to mine. I have arthritis in the knees and since a back injury and running too much track in HS I have a bad back and sore hips A LOT. I can tell you hooping is low impact...so for legs and things it IS good. But when you do things like barrel rolls, back bends, etc. it tends to put more stress on your back.

My suggestion if you aren't already.. STRETCH. Every day. Not just for hooping or before hooping but everyday really makes a difference. I still get sore when I do tougher moves of course. And also I suggest hot/cold therapy. 20 minutes with a heating pad and then switch to ice pack and so on until you are tired of it. This helps relax your muscles while reducing any swelling that could be causing pain. I also have recently been having a massage therapist friend of mine trade me for back/leg rubs just to keep the knots out. Hope you are feeling better!

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Permalink Reply by Annahoops on September 24, 2012 at 1:27pm

Yes!  It does seem pretty close to the same.   I tried doing yoga last week but the pain was awful.  Maybe like you said just do easy stretches will help.   This last week the pain has been the worst.. Ironically I have been practicing vertical shoulder hooping a ton lately. 

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StudentPermalink Reply by Rika on September 24, 2012 at 1:37pm

I would think that Vertical shoulder hooping could seriously bother your back, considering the movement it requires and the fact that you're hunched over for stretches of time.  Might want to cut down on that a bit too and see if it helps, or at least make sure you're taking frequent breaks.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Francine Noir on September 24, 2012 at 1:05pm

Definitely try a smaller hoop.  I have had some arthritic pain in my finger joints and knees and oil of oregano has helped me.

I copied this from a health benefits of oil of oregano page.  It is worth as try and I will say it has really really helped me, not only with joints and overall pain and soreness from being a graphic designer and sitting all day and using my hand over and over again, but has really boosted my immunity.

 

It is a bit pricey but last a long time...  Feel better!

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic/anesthetic (Pain reliever)
Oil of Oregano is an athlete's best friend due to its anti-inflammatory and anesthetic action. Applied externally, the oil deeply penetrates tissues and in so doing, brings relief and speeds healing and reduces the pain of bruises, sprains, torn and sore muscles, tendonitis, cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome and other similar injuries.
Arthritis responds well to this treatment. For topical use you may use it straight from the bottle. For people with sensitive skin you may dilute it by adding 3-5 drops of olive oil or carrier oil to 1 drop of Wild Oil of Oregano. Avoid eyes, mucous membranes and sensitive skin areas. Pain relief and added relief from arthritis, bursitis and other inflammatory conditions may be improved by also taking Oregano oil internally.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tilly Whirls on September 24, 2012 at 2:10pm

Are you spinning in both directions? I wonder if it's similar to hoopers hip: 
http://groovinmegzz.blogspot.com/2010/03/ah-yes-there-is-one-in-all...

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Permalink Reply by Jane "Electric Blue" on September 24, 2012 at 7:00pm

Doing any thing physical "through the Pain" is never going to provide a good result.

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Permalink Reply by Joan Warburton on September 25, 2012 at 1:02am

I never heard that hooping is good for arthritis.

Exercising a painful or hot joint is not a good idea.  Arthritis is a degenerative condition of bone.  It's not like a muscle injury.  There's exercises you can do to increase the strength of the muscles surrounding your problem joints but they're specific to that joint.

Speak to a doctor or a physical therapist if you're sure it's arthritis before you experiment with self medication, too. You could mask pain that you should be feeling as a warning sign. 

You mentioned the possibility of a slipped disc. I would think that hooping is definitely contraindicated and could result in a serious injury.  You're talking about pinching your spinal cord here. 

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Permalink Reply by Annahoops on September 25, 2012 at 5:58am

Yes,  I still haven't seen a specialist.  I would hate to cancel all of my classes through October.  I do have a friend who will come to the classes to help  me out so my hooping is minimal.   She said that the xray showed arthritis in my lower back, but my symptoms are also that of a bulging disk and she gave me a name of a specialist that takes payment plans.  She said to get the MRI and make sure its just arthritis and not a bulging disk.  The crazy thing is I have been to the Chiropractor multiple times this last year and she never said anything about my lower back.  She kept telling me hips were out of alignment causing the pain.   I guess I had a bad Chiropractor.  Either way, it has continued to gradually get worse.  I am not sure I will be able to hoop much anyways,  I haven't hooped since last week.   I plan to still have the class, I am just bringing a helper. 

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Permalink Reply by derple on September 25, 2012 at 8:11pm

:( Please stop hooping (and doing other similar activities) until you see a medical doctor. That does not include chiropractors as they are not medical doctors. :( :( :(

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Permalink Reply by JazzyHoopz on September 26, 2012 at 11:04am

just found this for you as well 

http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/features/back-pain-remedies-and-tips...

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