Shark,
It would probably be predicated on the nature of your back issues. I have been fighting off back surgery by the surgeon who says my bulged discs will someday require it. I aggressively sought out a non-invasive method to provide relief, even to walk and function within my profession. What I came up with is the following:
1. Eric Cressey's Magnificent Mobility - learning to disassociate the pelvic girdle from the low back. I do this everyday...sometimes several times. But at a minimum as part of my warm up.
2. A rumble roller...this is huge. I started with the soft white roller, worked up to the pvc pipe covered with thin foam, then the rumble. The rumble has really helped my issues.
3. The ssb. Initially it hammered by neck, traps and upper back with a good deal of emphasis on the low back until I learned to really sit back on the squat, drive my head "into" the bar and squeeze the glutes before the concentric phase.
This has been two years this November and I feel better than I have in years. My squat weights are nothing to speak of, 435x5 doing 5/3/1 no wraps but I do use a belt.
So in short, the ssb is relative to the whole picture of what you are trying to accomplish, where you are currently, and where you want to go. Yes, it will increase the stress on the low back initially, but I feel it helps to strengthen the low back and for me, it helped.
If it helps, I'm 48 years old, been training for about 18 years, bodybuilding and some powerlifting early on. I have a picture in the members photo section so I have tried what I preach! lol
I hope this helps you better decide if a ssb will help, may just have to try it and see. I hope it helps you the way it has helped me!
.gif "IP Gear")
