Originally Posted by
peterws
Being in my early 70s, I wonder about weights loading/compressing the spine. It's something we do most o' the time when we're not sleeping. So I do chin ups instead, to stretch it a bit. I don't know if it thanks me for it . . . but my arthriticky elbows and wrists seem happy enough. . . so far!
I used to worry about that, too. However after 40 years of compressing my spine, it seems all the healthier for it. The main thing is to work your back muscles. Working abs like all the beautiful folks in the gym doesn't do anything for you, other than make you beautiful if you care that much about it. It's back work that'll keep you moving. Geezers all complain about their backs, right? At least those who don't work out do. Anything that works your back is good. Squats is one of those things as are deadlifts and stiff-legged deadlifts. Also horizontal rows, dumbbell presses, and oddly enough, dumbbell pullovers.