(Un)important back / by Alexander Lyadov

How much time do you spend glued to a desk?

I can’t manage less than 8-10 hours a day.

Unfortunately, such work comes at a cost—a nasty pain in the back.

I’m not alone. 5 out of 10 working adults endure back pain each year. It’s the “popular” reason for chronic pain and the top cause of missed work and disability.

Recently, I had enough. I decided to toughen up my back.

Unlike past futile attempts, here’s what I do now:

  1. Dedicated workouts for the problem area (lower back).

  2. Exercise at least 3-4 times a week.

  3. Invested in a ​program​ from orthopedists who fixed my “wrestler’s elbow.”

Thanks to the struggle and kettlebells, I thought I was no slouch. But some exercises I couldn’t do at first. Give a shot to, say, ​Side Plank Thruster​, 3-4 sets for 1 minute each.

Turns out, some of my muscles are embarrassingly weak. They seem unimportant because they don’t stand out like shoulders, chest, or biceps.

The irony is that the stability of your back depends on these inconspicuous muscles. Hence, everything else:

  • Confidence in daily tasks with a load,

  • Explosive strength, and mobility,

  • No missed workouts,

  • High productivity,

  • Quality of life, etc.

Truth often hides where we least expect it.

Sincerely yours,

-Alexander


About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.

How can I help you?
If you've long been trying to understand what is limiting you and/or your business and how to finally give important changes a push, then The Catalyst Session is designed specifically for you. Book it here.