Wake up to the early signs
It’s not a big stretch to ease pain
HOW do you know your body needs some attention? Is pain really the first warning sign you get?
I regularly see new clients with some form of debilitating back pain that has been caused by something as minor as bending over to pick up a pencil, or getting up out of a chair.
How does that happen? Surely those aren’t particularly dangerous activities. How do you know when you’re at risk of an episode of serious back pain from something so simple?
Let’s investigate a couple of signs to keep an eye out for.
Restricted movement is one of the earliest warning signs that you may notice. It might be in the form of difficulty looking over your shoulder, or difficulty putting your shoes on in the morning. It’s the kind of warning sign that can creep up on you or appear suddenly – but it’s definitely one to watch out for.
Another way to check underlying tension is to apply some pressure to muscles. While you’re reading this, give the muscles on top of your shoulder a bit of a squeeze. Does that cause any pain? If so, that would indicate that those muscles are tense, perhaps due to overuse or poor posture.
Muscle tension and imbalance in those muscles can lead to neck pain and headaches.
So perhaps you’ve noticed some restricted movement or tension. Maybe you haven’t yet, but you want to keep your back healthy anyway. What can you do?
Stretching can be a great way to get some extra mobility, and it’s easy to do. For example, bringing one or both knees up towards your chest while lying on your back can stretch tight gluteal or low back muscles. Those tight shoulder muscles? Lower your chin towards your chest and slowly turn your head until you feel a stretch down your neck. Hold a stretch for 10–20 seconds, allowing that muscle to lengthen a little. If you do find a movement that causes pain, get it checked out!
Simple movements that cause pain aren’t normal, and should be assessed by a health professional.
Also, keep an eye on your posture. The simplest posture exercise is to imagine you have a balloon attached to the very top of your head. Let the balloon draw your head up, and feel your posture improve as it does. It might even feel quite good.
Your local chiropractor can assess your body for underlying tension, even if it isn’t yet painful, and use specific adjustments to influence not only joint tension, but your body’s nervous system. Whatever you choose to do, don’t wait until your body is screaming for attention.