2009Operating forum
Managing a lower back strain while operating steadicam on a scheduled shoot
17 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A strained lower back typically requires three to four days to recover from this type of injury.
- Taking ibuprofen at three tablets upon waking and two tablets every six hours throughout the day can help manage back pain.
- Sneezing puts significant stress on the back and should be avoided or performed while stabilizing the back against a wall.
- Acupuncture sessions over consecutive days may provide rapid relief from acute back strain.
- A steadicam rig weighing 35-40 pounds can be operated while managing acute back pain with medication support.
- Strengthening back muscles through exercise, swimming, or surfing helps prevent recurrent strain injuries.
- Communication with producers should be clear and decisive—either disclose the injury and inability to work, or work without mentioning it, rather than claiming injury while volunteering to work anyway.
- Soaking in hot water, using inversion tables, massage, and stretching are recovery methods that can be pursued before or after a shoot.
Depends on
- The injury described was a recurring annual muscle strain, not a structural spinal problem.
- Advice about taking muscle relaxants before shooting was mentioned as potentially problematic but not definitively addressed.
- The decision to work through the injury was made based on career opportunity rather than medical assessment.
- No medical professional was consulted in this discussion.