lumbar pain after squatting

[valan]

Hi there,
Not sure if this should be in Training, so I'll try it here first.

My squat was doing OK, then I watched the DVD and read some stuff on this board and "thought" that maybe my back angle was not quite right. So last night I tried to focus on keep my back more rigid, setting the angle at about 1/3 the way down and keeping it. I felt that I lost hip drive (probably chest up too much) and felt a LOT of strain in my lower back. Last night and today my lumbar back is in excruciating pain (getting out of a chain is LOADS of fun, but still doable). I can touch my toes and stuff no problem, just very twitchy. I've had no low-back issues until now, so this makes me wonder if my back angle was just fine.

My next workout is scheduled for tomorrow.
1) Stop messing with my back angle, workout anyway and proceed with my usual 5lb
increase?
2) Workout anyway, increase anyway and try to mess with my angle again?
3) Workout anyway, don't mess with angle and repeat my last workout (to be sure I got my form under control)?

I'll post vids next time. Just need some advice on dealing with the pain and direction on my next workout.

[DV]

I'd put it in the Training Forum since it gets more reads there. In any case I'd probably do my warmups, and then play it by ear. Usually warmups works out most of the niggles and pains for me, and if you are the same I'd repeat or add 5, depending on how you feel. If you arent confident, then just do 1-2 sets of 5 at a lower weight, and come back stronger next session.

I wouldnt mess more with form, as it obviously didn't do you much good. Get a vid of your NORMAL form, and post it in the technique section. It's probably just fine, if you've been progressing regularly and not had any (unusual) aches or pains.

[thersites]

Yes, video in the technique sub forum is a must for diagnosing this (you might shoot both ways). It may be obvious to you once you see yourself on video. I wouldn't worry about the pain, as it sounds like you did the lifts in a way that called on your lower back muscles a lot more than they were used to and they are letting you know it. You'll likely be a bit sore and stiff next time, as Danish Viking said, warm up should help tremendously. If you got all your reps, take the increase next time. I'd go back to what seemed to work (other than doing both ways for the video) until you figure out whether you had a form issue, and if so, what the best way to address it is (it may not be what you tried).