Relieving Back Pain, Strengthening The Back With KAATSU
For who? Physical therapists, chiropractors, KAATSU Specialists
For what? Back pain, functional movement
Back pain is one of the most common ailments and complaints people experience, especially as they age, gain weight or become increasingly sedentary.
Back pain comes in myriad forms: muscle ache, shooting/stabbing pain, pain/numbness/tingling radiating down the legs, increasing pain with bending, lifting, standing or walking, or pain that improves with reclining.
Whether the back pain is caused by muscle or ligament strain, bulging or ruptured disks, arthritis, scoliosis, or osteoporosis, KAATSU users often find relief by doing the following movements and protocols using the KAATSU Cycle 2.0 unit and the KAATSU Air Bands:
KAATSU Cycle Arm Warm-up
- Snugly place KAATSU Air Bands on your upper arms and do 3-5 KAATSU Cycles at progressively higher pressures.
- Start at a low(er) pressure (e.g., GROUP LOW) on your first KAATSU Cycle and then increase your pressure (e.g., GROUP MEDIUM, GROUP HIGH, PRO LOW) on the subsequent Cycles.
- You can do simple movements of your arms that can include writing emails and sewing to non-weighted biceps curls and triceps extensions.
KAATSU Cycle Leg Warm-up
- Remove KAATSU Air Bands from your arms and snugly place KAATSU Air Bands on your upper legs.
- Do 3-6 KAATSU Cycles at progressively higher pressures on your legs.
- Start at a low(er) pressure (e.g., GROUP LOW) on your first KAATSU Cycle and then increase your pressure (e.g., GROUP MEDIUM, GROUP HIGH, PRO LOW) on the subsequent Cycles.
- You can do some or all of these simple movements:
- Sit up straight (as possible) in a chair, non-slouched with good posture your feet flat on the floor, shoulders back and torso engaged, looking forward while breathing comfortably.
- Stand up straight (as possible) and pace comfortably back and forth in your room. If you do this is a fitness room or gym, take off your shoes and walk on yoga mats or any other kind of soft, spongy surface.
- Stretch your lower back and legs in any number of ways. One particularly effective stretch is to slightly elevate your toes off the ground and bend forward at your waist, letting your arms hang to your feet. There is no need to strain yourself, just bend over comfortably.
- Do the KAATSU 3-Point Exercises for your Legs (see here including Toe Curls, Toe Raises, Heel Raises, Standing Leg Curls, and Quarter Squats).
- With your feet shoulder width apart, stand comfortably while slightly bending your knees and holding water bottles in both your hands down at your sides. Lean slightly forward at an angle while maintaining a straight back. Do not move your hips while you lift your arms forward as high as possible. Repeat 5-10 times.
Key Points
- Be very well hydrated before and during the KAATSU Cycles.
- The color of your skin on your arms and legs should be a pinker or redder tone than normal while doing KAATSU. This indicates that your blood circulation is improved with the KAATSU Air Bands on.
- Remove immediately if your skin becomes clammy or cold or you feel lightheaded.
- You will quickly feel fatigue, much more quickly than if you did the same exercise without KAATSU Air Bands on your arms.
- Repeat this exercise daily or, if so motivated, twice per day (both in the morning and afternoon or evening).
- Place the KAATSU Air Bands snugly on your limbs. Snugly means that you can put one finger between the KAATSU Air Bands and your skin – but not two or three fingers. If you can put two or three fingers between the bands and your skin, the bands should be manually tightened a bit more.
- Your back should gradually feel looser and more flexible. As this feeling improves, you can increase your pressure levels and range of motion – but it should all be done gradually and comfortably.