There are a couple of reasons why you may have had less pain after fishing, although I won’t be able to tell you with certaintly what caused your positive results.

1) Deep Sea fishing can be rocky on the waves. This requires your core muscles to kick in to keep you stable so you don’t fall over. When the boat tips to the right your core keeps you from falling to the right. Some people have a reduction in low back pain by strengthening their core muscles. Perhaps you respond to kicking the core muscles in to help support your back.

2) When you tell me you have had hip replacements, I think of what may be different in regards to the way you walk/stand on the boat versus land. On a boat, you are more likely to use a wider base of support, keeping your feet further apart. Without examining your legs/back in person, I am not able to say whether or not this is a factor, but it could be. If this is the case, strengthening the sides of your hips could be key.

3) Many people with back pain respond to a specific direction of movement. If repeated, the right direction of moving the back can reduce pain quickly. Think about if there were any movements of your back ex) bending backwards or forwards or twisting that were repeated more than usual this day of fishing. I wasn’t able to watch you fish, so I am not sure how you were positioned. However, fishing is often an activity that creates a slightly forward position. Often people with arthritis or stenosis in the low back will feel better with a slightly forward position. Many people will say they feel best when walking at the grocery store with a shopping cart (bent slightly forward). This slightly forward position opens the spine in the back, creating more room for the nerves in the back to breathe. With an arthritic back, some structures may impinge upon the nerves and bending forward relieves this pressure.

I am sorry I can’t tell you for sure what helped, but I hope this gives you a few ideas!

So what did you catch?!!! Sounds like you need to fish every day…therapist orders=).

1) Here is a link to our blog on plantar fasciitis: http://www.athletico.com/2012/05/09/plantar-fasciitis-solutions/
2) Head over to your nearest Athletico for a complimentary screening. Each person’s reason as to why he/she has plantar fasciitis may differ. It is always a good idea to be checked out in person to determine the causes and what exactly to do about it for you specfically.
3) Bring your running shoes with you to your complimentary screening, as shoe wear is essential for healthy running.
4) Consider a Video Running Analysis at one of our locations. For more on video running analysis visit: http://www.athletico.com/services/specialized-services/endurance-outreach/video-gait-analysis/

Hope this helps! Thanks for visiting the blog!

Thanks for your advice. I’m hoping for some feedback about lack of pain from 12 hr. deep sea fishing trip.

I have had both hips replaced in the last five yrs. and suffer considerable low back pain when working outisde on certain tasks (bending over to pick weeds, digging holes, using a screwdriver.)

However I suffered no pain from fishing trip and woke up next morning with less discomfort than usual. Do you have any explanations for why the activity of catching a lot of fish in deep ocean water would relieve my common back arthritic pains?

Thanks for your feedback!! Marty Schultz–on vacation in Emerald Isle NC