In this blog I wanted to discuss why it's more important to engage with your physical health and how physiotherapy can help with that.
How do we go about improving our physical health? To name a few ...
Exercise
Diet
Sleep
Reducing Stressors
The contributor I would like to primarily talk about is pain and movement. While physiotherapy can certainly assist with being "pain free", there is so much more that physiotherapy can offer.
A common example I hear is this: "I am no longer experiencing pain in my lower back as long as I avoid gardening, am careful with bending over, and/or stop playing sports."
While it sounds great to not experience pain, it should ideally not be at the expense of discontinuing the activities you enjoy or limiting yourself. When coming into physiotherapy, the goal should be not only to eliminate pain, but to return to the activities you enjoy, maintain your level of function, and perhaps even engage in activites that have never been done before.
Being able to move well and without pain has many benefits in the short term and long term.
When we move well, we are able to try new hobbies such as gardening, pick up new sports, go hiking and explore the great outdoors
It enables us to socialize with people rather than stay at home because of pain or a nagging headache
We can be productive and go to work rather than be bed ridden or fidgeting in a chair to find a comfortable position .
Improved sleep - pain and muscle tension can affect our quality of sleep and vice versa. When we have restful sleep, our energy levels and focus will improve as well.
Being able to move well without pain will enhance our ability to lose weight. Often I've been told by people that they are trying to lose weight, but cannot with exercise because of pain in the joints.
When we are able to exercise, we can better control our cholesterol levels, blood pressure, sugar levels and weight.
As someone who has experienced a wide range of injuries while growing up and playing sports, I certainly can relate to the moments of feeling low, frustrated, and the loss of depedence.
When I suffered with a low back injury from rock climbing , I had a wide range of symptoms that lasted for 3-4 months.
was unable to walk without a limp
had burning pain going down my leg if I stood for a few minutes
Couldn't get out of bed without help while also experiencing muscle spasm and sharp, intense pain in my low back
Couldn't bend over to put on my socks or pants without help
While the pain was certainly in the forefront of my mind, I think it was more the loss of function that hit me hard. In the moments that I couldn't move my body the way I wanted to, it was then that I learned to really appreciate my body and to make sure that I took good care of it if I wanted to maintain an active lifestyle.
A few take away reflections from my experience that I would like to share with you is this:
Don't ignore your body and listen to the signs. If not, it may lead to not being able to function the way you want or cause you more discomfort in the long run. If your body is feeling stiff, tight, or sore and it doesn't resolve, get it checked out!
Be proactive with your physical health! One of the best ways to stay flexible and strong is to keep active. This can come in many forms such as yoga, pilates, lifting weights, and playing sports.
Connect with a health care practitioner for an evaluation and body tune up on a quarterly basis - just like how we see dentists one to two times a year! Doing regular check ups for your body outweighs the costs and toll that it has on your body (financially, emotionally, mentally, and physically) in the long run!
I hope you learned a few things today and found it helpful for your journey to recovery! If you have any questions about anything I wrote about today, please email me at zacharyhumphysiotherapy@gmail.com
Interested to learn personally about how I work and how I can help you? - Come in for a free 15 minute consultation!
Ready to learn more about your body at a deeper level? - Book your appointment today!