Staying active doesn’t have to mean skipping the fun or squeezing in long gym sessions. A few simple, science-backed habits can keep your body moving well and your energy levels up all season long.
Here’s how you can keep your body happy through the holidays
Every winter, falls on icy sidewalks lead to fractures, back injuries, and long recoveries—many of which are preventable. The good news? A few simple changes to how you walk, dress, and shovel can make all the difference.
Today, we are going to explore how our nervous system plays a key role in how we experience pain. Before I get into the two big takeaways I have for you today, let’s take a closer look at what the nervous system is really doing behind the scenes.
Today I wanted to talk to you about pain vs function. Many people I encounter in the clinic will typically use pain as the main driving factor of their decisions on whether or not they should be coming to or leaving therapy. However, I’m here to tell you that pain is not the best measurement of how a person’s physical health is doing.
The best and most representative test or criteria we should watch for is physical function. I’ll talk a little more about this idea in general later on, but one analogy that I wanted to share with you is something I share with many people. Imagine if you had your finger stuck in the door for a second, and then the door is opening and closing on your finger. That finger might become very bloody, sore, swollen, thus getting all of the attention as far as wrapping the finger, cleaning, icing, and so on.
Four out of five adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their life. Undeniably, it isn’t fun. You wake up and you may struggle to get out of bed. Chances are, you didn’t have a good sleep because of the pain. And now, you’re preparing for a rough day as the pain continues.
Lower back pain can throw a wrench into your life and your plans. It can even happen suddenly, such as when you’re simply putting your pants on in the morning — something you do every single day. It can be frustrating.
So, what’s going on? Why does lower back pain happen in the first place? And how can you prevent it?