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i find that sitting for long periods is much worse for my back than playing squash. i recommend sticking with the stretches that your physio has given you. it may take time to work, but the reward is well worth it. you may also want to ask your physio of one side of your lower back is significantly stronger/weaker than the other due to poor posture. if so, then doing exercises to strengthen the weak side of your back will also produce good results.

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The junior coach here has said that 5'10 is the ideal squash height for the reasons you mentioned. I am 3 inches taller than that. I am having a break from squash now, playing Wednesday set me back several days.

The physio did give me stretches for the lower back but apparently it can take up to 6 weeks for the pain to fully go (most gone in 7-10 days). I really hope it doesn't take that long. I'd miss squash and I do have those long flights to Manchester next month

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Mike - take a look at the Relevant Tags where there has been previous discussion on "back pain".

Funnily, squash seemed to be better suited to folks of medium height as the twisting and turning and bending (boasts especially) takes its toll on taller people over a five setter.  Prolonged sitting, and driving do not help the back stay flexible as well as shortening the hamstrings. The Back Physio recommends only sitting for maximum 20 minutes at a time. How we move and how we lift, and how we bend are also important, eg getting out of the car, lifting and twisting, and how we pick up things from the floor, etc. 

I would be laying off the squash until you get this problem under control; get a set of strengthening/flexibility exercises from the Physio especially for the back and tummy muscles.

Yep, as aprice said posture is so important for our backs and shoulders too. 

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the only answer i can give is YES, i am only 22 and my back is done in!  Posture in life generally will impact on back flexibility as if you have bad posture then your back muscles live in "abnormal" positions and so when you stress them you are more likely to get back problems.  But i do often notice after squash that my back is really tired, as you say you should lunge with the legs not bend with the back, this should also help you reach to balls and keep the distance from them that i certainly find helps me.  I think your back problems are multifactoral, poor posture is then compounded by poor technique so to speak,  Address both aspects, posture comes all the way down the spine, from neck/head to sacroiliacs.  Your physio should give you exercises to help this and otherwise focus on streching legs not back on court, a big step to the ball is supposed to be good!

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