Dear Anoop

I have recently been told (again) by a couple of professionals (kinesiologist and physiotherapist) that I should give up weight training in favor of cycling swimming and running (which I do anyway). I have recurring neck and upper back stiffness and spasms which they are saying is being caused by immobility in my thoracic vertebrae which in turn is due to my 20+ years of lifting weights.

I don’t want to give up!

I have gone through varying degrees of commitment to training both cardio and weight training.  I have been a lean 210 pounds at 5ft 9inches after one determined year with the right gym partner and good food. I have also been an even leaner 168 pounds directly after a summer of nothing but running and swimming (was put off weight training by usual back neck hiatus) So the yo yo ing continues ad nauseum. My body started being forged by heavy sessions at a young age (15/16) to complement my sprinting and I think it has affected my frame as I look skeletal if I drop to 180 pounds, doesn’t even suit my face! (so my wife says)

My questions are:

How should I train as to not tighten further my poor thoracic region?
Are there any exercises/stretches I can do to compensate and get the area moving?
Has poor form/technique caused all of this strife?
Am I better off putting my excursions into Triathlon!

I love your site and respect your learning, thought that you may be able to come up with some answers?

Many thanks, best regards

Chris

Hi Seymour,

Finally, you came to the right place!

There are people people who have immobility in half their body, like stroke victims and cerebral palsy patients and they are living with no pain. If immobility or tightness was a good reason, they should all be crying out in pain their whole life!

1. Read this article first: http://bretcontreras.com/2011/03/a-revolution-in-the-understanding-of-pain-and-treatment-of-chronic-pain/
2. Do more mobility work where you are not stretching but moving the thoracic or your whole upper body. here ae some videos:

I guarantee that you will be more than ready for a triathlon! Just make sure you read that first article.

Welcome to Exercise Biology!

WElcome. You picked the right place!