“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” – Bob Marley
It’s one thing to learn how to manage chronic pain after suffering with it for a long period of time. And it’s another thing to take steps to minimize and even eliminate that pain with approaches and therapies like those employed here at Pain and Performance Solutions.
But it’s a completely different strategy to embrace a lifestyle that seeks to avoid the injuries and motion dysfunctions that can lead to chronic pain.
Not a Magic Cure
Because we live in a physical world in bodies that are simultaneously strong and vulnerable, injury is something that can never be a hundred percent prevented. And a lifetime of poor posture, sedentary habits and over-exertion with a less-than-physically fit body can also result in injuries and subsequent pain.
But much of this can, in fact, be avoided and significantly minimized.
How, you might ask?
By engaging in a lifestyle of exercise and strength training. And this is not to say that you must commit to a rigorous workout regimen and “pump iron” like Arnold Schwarzenegger! In fact, it can be as simple as a few times per week mixing moderate cardio exercises with some resistance or weight workouts.
One of the benefits of using bands, resistance machines or good old fashioned weights is the benefits they bring through strength training.
According to one website,
“Strength training improves the strength of the muscles, tendons, and even the ligaments and bones. The stronger muscles and tendons help hold the body in proper alignment and protect the bones and joints when moving or under impact. The bones become stronger due to the overload placed on them during training and the ligaments become more flexible and better at absorbing the shock applied to them during dynamic movements.
When an area of the body is used less during an activity it may become weak compared to other areas. This can become a problem when that area (whether a muscle, ligament, joint, or specific bone) is called into play suddenly during an activity. That area cannot handle the sudden stress placed on it and an injury occurs. Strength training, using a balanced program, will eliminate these weak areas and balance the body for the activities it is called to do.”
Keep in mind that strength training and maintenance can have a number of other mental, emotional and physical benefits, as well. But having a physiological structure that is inured to stress injuries is chief among them.
Another goal is to develop and maintain a more ideal posture and more natural movement. Exercise and working out can help support both of these goals. In addition, the stronger your body is, the more properly your movements will be and the fewer injuries you’re likely to suffer.
So Many Benefits from Being and Staying Stronger
A well-rounded exercise regimen that includes strength training program can increase the strength of your bones, muscles and connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments. This benefit alone will lead to a much lower risk of injury
And, if you’re physically active, there’s some good evidence that strength training can help to reduce the risk of tearing a muscle, a very common sports injury. Ultimately, though, what is probably more critical to your optimal function, fitness and quality of life is your motion, or mobility. Regular exercise and strength training allows you to move your joints through their full range of motion and you can increase that range of motion over time.
The benefits of muscle strengthening is seen in many areas of physical health. An article from Real Simple magazine makes this point,
“‘A wrenched neck can be a huge pain in the you-know-what. To stave off aches in vulnerable areas, such as your neck, knees, and back, you need to strengthen the muscles surrounding them,’ says Gaelyn Rogers, a physical therapist with ShiftPT, an integrative-health facility in New York City. Doing so will stabilize your joints so you’re less likely to injure them while performing simple tasks, like lifting a bag of groceries.”
Really, the benefits of regular exercise – cardio, strength and balance – have a more holistic effect on one’s sense of well-being and overall health. It impacts us physically, emotionally, mentally and – some would say – even spiritually.
Sometimes You Need Pain and Performance Solutions
It’s been said that prevention is the best cure. And there is great truth in that, but we cannot control everything in life. If you are suffering from pain and discomfort from injuries, old or new, we invite you to come in and see us here at Pain and Performance Solutions.
During your first appointment, we will learn all we can about your present pain and condition, along with any history of discomfort, as well as your current activity and lifestyle. We do this because to treat and relieve pain effectively, we must understand where and how your pain started.
This examination will help us determine which form of treatment is best suited to get you on your road to recovery. Your trust in us is key, as is your honesty. So, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help and will answer any questions that you may have.
Our goal is to work through the sequence of pain and dysfunction so we can help your body become healthy, work properly, and achieve total recovery. Don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help and will answer any questions that you may have.
You can reach us at (707) 636-4404 or by filling out our online contact form.