What rides for a slightly bad back ...

[bajanswife]

One of the friends I'm coming to the World with in October has a slightly bad back, and is nervous to do rides. Her back is fine most of the time - she just can't do certain floor exercises because they strain it. But she walks and runs for exercise, and scuba dives, and until recently was active at a gym. It's really only certain movements that hurt - and I've mainly heard her complain about certain floor exercises. She does yoga, but presumably skips the exercises that hurt.

So, how risky are the real thrill rides at Disney? Can she do the slightly tamer ones? Which ones have you encountered that put pressure on the back or neck? I guess she should be avoiding anything really jerky, but could maybe handle smoother motions with a few drops?? Any input?

 

[JKanownik]

I have similar back problems and the only ride that bothers me is BTMR because of the vibrations and the fact that you move around in the seat. Actually my back problems sound a little worse than hers. I run on a treadmill, but I can't run for more than 10 minutes straight. I won't even consider running on any hard surfaces.

I have yet to ride MS, so that would be the only other ride I would worry about.

One thing to note is that the warm weather and walking help my back tremendously when I'm down there. Being from Barbados (as opposed to Ohio) she won't get the weather benefit, but the walking should help a lot.

-DH

[Edit - Depending on your friend's size she may have a different ride experience than me (I'm 6'1"). You may want to post her size and ask people of a similar size if there are any rides that are particularly jerky for them.]

 

[Gluman11]

I wouldn't worry about MS.........you are pretty "locked into" your seat and you don't move around a whole lot...............in the seat that is.........just put your head back and relax..........

 

[maine_jennifer]

My dad has a "bad back". He fell off a roof about 20 years ago and cracked/broke a vertabrae, I think. He has also had some other problems, more recently with his spine that were just corrected last summer. My brother also has a "bad back" that goes out every so often.

First - we were all very shocked that Dad wanted to do roller coasters!!! This was a big thing as his excuse at home for doing things around here is his back.

The two that stand out are BTMR and RNRC. Dad said it was RNRC was a bit more than he should have done, but didn't really have any problems afterwards. His FAVORITE was BTMR. He absolutely loved it and wished we did it more than once. Brother did ok with everything.

HTH,

 

[popy]

I GOT MORE WRONG WITH MY BACK THAN
I COULD LIST HERE. NOW GET THIS, THE
ONLY RIDE THAT HURTS IS KILIMANJARO
SAFARIS AT AK, I RIDE IT ANYWAY, BUT
ONLY ONCE.
I KNOW HE IS CONCERNED, I WAS TOO, BUT,
DON'T WORRY IT'S DISNEY NICE.

I

 

[goofy4tink]

I have a 'sensitive' back. In spasm as we speak in fact. Then only ones I would stay away from are Space Mt. and Dinosaur. BTMRR is a tough call. If you try to fight the side to side movement then it could be rough. I just go with the flow since it is one of our favorite attractions. RnRC hasn't bothered me yet. ToT did but that was because I clenched every muscle in my body for the whole ride.

 

[PanamaMike]

Chronic back pain from a 20 year old injury.
BTHR and Space Mtn are the two I'd vote for.

 

[bajanswife]

I didn't remember BTMR as being very vibrating, but it's been 6 years! Good to know! Sounds like she can do any rides that are not coasters. I doubt we'll do MS - too chicken! I guess we can skip SM - BTDT for me, and she'll live without it! The safari will be a must - I think she'll put up with any back problems there. I heard that the RnR coaster was actually quite smooth - any comments? I've never done that one.

 

[goofy4tink]

RnRC is really smooth. No jerking at all. Fast, very fast. The loops are gentle. Only way I knew I was upside down was that my shoulders hit the restraints.

 

[me me57]

I have on and off upper and lower back pain. The 2 worst rides were Dinosaur and RnR coaster. RnR gave me a neck and head ache and I had my head plastered against the seat when we took off to avoid any problem.
No other rides bothered my back, but I did not do Mission Space and Space Mountain.

 

[Nicoal13]

I started to have some lower back problems about a month before my last trip. Thankfully, with almost daily visits to the chiropractor, it was taken care of.

It was slightly sore before I left and I was afraid to ride some of the rides, but I didn't have any problems. I think the weather helped it feel better. I didn't have back pain for the entire week.

 

[zuly]

Hello!!

I had severe lower back problems,can't use a broom ,can't wash my theeth on the sink because I can't bend myself to that position,can't run...well got the picture...and Ihad done everything at Disney ,Universal and Island of Adventure,all he rollercoasters,rides...the only ones that I avoid are the coasters that only have lap bars becaus you move a lot and make a lot of pushing triying to stay in place...but if youre really carefull you are going to be able to feel all the Magic without problems...my doctor says that is better to be walking at disney for your back than working 8 hrs on a chair,for your back is better a lot of movement than nothing....so enjoy your trip and be safe!!!!

Wishing to see a lot of lime green in July

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[nitsirk987]

hello,

so i am 28 with 3 lower herniated disks, L 3,4 &5. people with back problems will know what i am talking about!!

anyways, i would have to say the only ride that bothered me was space mountain and thunder mountain. kinda two jerky rides. other than that, RNR was a piece of cake. i was really worried about it before we went on, but because of the force from the speed and because the ride is so smooth, it didn't bother me at all.

just take it easy and rest when needed and you should be fine!!!

 

[gschmerl]

I also have a bad back. The rides that bother it are Star Tours at MGM, Body Wars at Epcot, and Dinosaur at AK.

 

[Micca]

I have some back problems, but I don't think the rides bother me too much, it's all the walking and time on my feet

 

[Plutes]

My father has a herniated disk, as well, and we were very worried about it during our first trip to the World. The only rides that gave him a hard time were Body Wars & Star Tours. Now, he just skips those on every trip. He's been on BTMR, SM & RnRC many, many times & never had a problem. But, of course, everyone is different. I agree, though, that Dinosaur & Kilomanjaro Safaris are both quite rough, as well!

 

[memorylayne]

I have a bad neck and the only ride that bothered me was the very start of space mtn. after entering the car you go about 20ft. and comes to a very abrupt stop. It's not bad if you expect it but it caused me hours of pain.