all i can speak from is personal experience with var......i have 4 herniated disks in my back....i would always work out(using the best form i could) but after 2 weeks straight i would have to take a week or longer off due to leg and lower back pain....when i started my var cycle this concernd me...because of the$ factor....but i swear to you.....my leg still has some numbness, but my back never kept me out of the gym while on var. not only did i get graet gains from it...strength and lbm, but i DEFINATLY helped my back..........i dont kno the scientific explaination for it, but my back is still 90% better then it was before i started taking var!