ŌHow Daily Habits Cause Pain And Stress
For Our BodiesÕ
Almost daily I have clients come to my
office and say they have muscle pain but the donÕt fell they did anything to
cause it. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the fact is that you
probably did. Chronic muscle pain is not always from injury. In fact it is more
often than not a progressive overuse injury that develops over time. ItÕs not
really something just seems like something that jumped out and grabbed you it
just seems that way.
Here are some of the big daily
no-no's that we all do.
1. Grocery Bag Warrior- There once was a time in my life it was literally against my religion to
grocery shop more than once a week, that included getting the groceries, every
last bag inside in one haul. What a strain on wrists and shoulders.
Fast-forward a couple of days- still trying to figure out why your arms and
shoulders hurt?
2. The Lop Sided Driver- ever tried sitting in a chair for 30
minutes with a 1-inch book under one butt cheek? This is the equivalent of
having self-induced scoliosis (an S shaped curve of the back.) One side of the
waist collapses into the pelvic structure and causes the lower ribs to jut out
slightly on the opposite side. The neck moves off in the opposite direction as
well trying keep the head and body aligned. A wallet in the back pants pocket
can create this very scenario. Not to mention the pressure your wallet puts on
the sciatic nerve.
3. High Heel Horror- The fact of the matter is high heels do
make a womenÕs legs look fabulous, and many women like the extra height. But
high heels wreak havoc on the body throwing off the center of gravity. This
causes tightness in the low back, and calves, draws your head and neck forward.
The muscles are stressed both the front and puts increased force on the
forefoot and inner knee, leading to degenerative changes over time. The
podiatrist will tell you itÕs like being pregnant without the belly, and it
doesn't end after 9 months. The damage is accumulative, and many times
irreversible.
4. Cell phone shoulder- This one is a little different in the
respect that most individuals recognize just how sore their shoulder and even
more so their neck is after propping the phone on the shoulder during lengthy
conversations. We know we are injuring our neck and shoulder at the time but
are distracted by the conversation.
5. Mouse trap shoulder- this is most common one of all. I donÕt
know the percentage of Americans that own and use a computer these days, but I
know itÕs high from the number of clients I see with this complaint. Reaching
forward, up and off to the side is a very unnatural movement and isolates the
muscles of the shoulder and neck causing headache, arm pain and numbness, neck
and shoulder discomfort.
Pay attention to how you use your body
throughout the routines of your day. When you find yourself over reaching,
stooping, sitting or standing in odd ways work to correct it. Your body will
repay you with less or nogchjhjhjkhjkljkl pain. Till next time, Rebecca.
12/2/07