Toning tables

[button]

Due to a bad back I cannot go to the gym. Walking is the only painfree excercise I can do. Recently I heard about toning tables. Do they work & has anyone any experiences of them?

[Janetex]

Swimming would be the best thing, aquarobics even better, but the toning tables exercising would be the next best.

[woofgang]

umm... the thing with toning tables is that for it to work, you have to push against the table's movement. They do work, but be careful over which movement the table is set up to do, as some of them could make your back worse. I haven't done it myself, but understand that pilates can be useful when the back is injured

[Tat]

pilates can be good depending on your type of injury - ask your doc or the pilates teacher first. swimming is the best though, also doing aquarobicsy type stuff like walking up and down the in pool. if it's really bad try to get your doc to refer you for physio and/or hydrotherapy. i've had both for my back (i broke it last year) and doing stuff in the pool is best because the water supports your body which can relieve the pain as well. also can you do resistance training (weights etc) in the gym, it's not the same as cardio stuff but is still good to do. and how about the cross trainer? that isn't high impact but is a great cardio workout.

[beagle1]

If you go swimming, go easy on breast stroke if you swim with head out of water. For some people it can aggravate a bad back - alternate with back stroke if you can. Also suggest you consult physiotherapist - there are plenty of exercises you can do in gym (mostly on mat, not weights) which will help strengthen and stabilise back muscles when the pain is less. I also recommend hydrotherapy - I'm recovering from back op in February & all these have helped me.

[button]

Thank you to you all - there's a few options to be getting on with.