Like many people on this board, I suffer from low back pain. I am at the gym nearly every day to manage it, and it still causes discomfort on a daily basis.

The best exercise I have found is canoeing. After one hard day of paddling, the pain completely disappears - even with sleeping on the ground. After a 3-4 day trip, it feels fantastic for a couple weeks. Unfortunately, I don't live on the water and don't have time to paddle every day, so the pain eventually returns.

Has anyone found an exercise (at the gym or otherwise) that closely mimics a paddling motion? Any ideas?

Thank you.

I am the same way, a little bit of work and my pain goes away. In the BWCA I never have back pain and never have problems sleeping too!

it may relate more to the stress of everyday life. we tend to lose that on trips...atleast we should.

Good point on stress! I have lower back pain that also goes away after a couple days in the woods. It always amazes me.

I have found that a woodchopper exercise uses many of the same muscles used in paddling. I think most of my back pain comes from sitting too much.

Soledad - thanks for recommendation. I tried it out at the gym this morning, and it really does a pretty good job with the motion.

Sorry - I just realized that I posted this in the Gear Forum...meant to post it in the General.