How not to exercise

It was a routine off-day or so I thought. At around 8.30 a.m. on December 10 when I completed my exercises at house, I ventured out to buy a magazine. For the next 25 minutes or so, I felt an acute pain in my back. I walked diaognally, more like a giraffe, u can say.

Unable to tolerate the pain, I rushed to the Bone and Joint Clinic in Anna Nagar. After taking an X-ray I met the doctor who said there is nothing to worry except that I undergo physiotherapy sessions.

The physio, smart and jovial chap within minutes of talking with me found out the problem.

"Sir what exercises you do," he asked. The normal stretching exercises," I replied.

I also told him about the stretching routine where lie down on your back and make contact with nose and the knees. I dutifuly did it for him.

With a smile, the physio said, "that's what caused the pain."

That exercise, he said, should be done after you have through with your running, and not in the early morning (which I have been doing for nearly six months).

"Don'ty worry sir, three days of physiotherapy sessions and the pain will vanish. I am hopeful.

PS: When you do any exercise, consult the 'right' people. Otherwise you might end up with a problem. Back problem, to be precise.