Good Therapy is taking care of your body…Life Happens daily and along with stress, and the un-predictability that comes with life it can take a huge toll on our bodies. The results can be headaches, muscle spasms, fatigue, energy imbalances, physiological, and chemical imbalances as well. My blog today is about the simple everyday things you can do for yourself to help, and/or strengthen muscles of the body to improve strength, coordination, and muscle health. Asking too much of your neglected muscles is asking for an injury as well. The following tips are from Dr. Jordan D. Metzl, M.D., one of the country’s leading sports medicine physicians and author of The Athlete’s Book of Home Remedies, to explain how some of the most common sports injuries occur—and what we can do about them.
1. SHOULDER OR ARM PAIN
Maybe you tweaked it shooting three-pointers. Or maybe you just slept on it wrong. If the pain lingers; the hidden cause: Nerve roots at the top of your spine supply motor and sensory function to your upper arms. When you bend or twist your neck, the nerves can be pinched. The simple fix: As the pain lessens, stand with your hands interlaced behind your neck. Bend your neck back and squeeze your shoulder blades. Pause and return to the starting position. Work up to 10 reps. once you're pain-free, build neck strength by doing shrugs.
2. LOWER-BACK SPASMS
You threw out your back spreading mulch; could it be a herniated disk? Maybe but don't visit your doctor just yet.The hidden cause: Weak or tight hamstrings, core muscles, and/or glutei muscles, as well as hip flexors can mess up your alignment and mechanics, forcing your back muscles to compensate and overextend.
The simple fix: Stay mobile, use ice in the first 48 hours and heat after that, and take aspirin or ibuprofen. As the pain eases, begin stretching the hamstring, gluts, core, and/or hip-flexors gently to help keep the muscle fibers elongated this in turn helps to keep them from tightening or cramping up. When you're pain-free, add multidirectional lunges, core exercises, and body-weight squats.
3. HEEL AND ARCH PAIN
So you’re ready to blame your shoes or too much running for the pain that is now coursing through your feet...
The hidden cause: Your plantar fascia is connected to your heel bone (and so are your calf muscles, by way of the Achilles tendon). Tight calves can stretch and strain the fascia.The simple fix: Sit on the floor and place a foam roller under your right ankle with your leg straight. Cross your left leg over your right ankle. With your hands flat on the floor, roll forward so the foam is under your knee. Roll back. Repeat for 3 minutes; switch legs.
4. INNER-THIGH PAIN
It feels like (and could be) a groin strain, brought on by your re-introduction to a bike seat. But groin strains improve. (Note: If yours does not…)
The hidden cause: You might have a sports hernia—a strain or tearing of muscles or tendons, usually caused by an imbalance between your adductors and abdominals.
The simple fix: Unfortunately, surgery is the only fix for most sports hernias. But you can prevent a hernia in the making. The key is to address the muscle imbalance by training your core. Shoot for 5 to 6 minutes of daily plank time on top of your regular training.
5. KNEE PAIN
Pain around your knee makes you think tendinitis, arthritis, or a meniscus tear.
The hidden cause: If your core muscles, hips, quads, and/or gluts are under-conditioned or out of balance, your pelvis will wobble, stressing your knees when you run.
The simple fix: Focus on dynamic rest. As your pain lessens, try squats, jump squats, multidirectional lunges, planks, and glutei bridges to stabilize your pelvis. Start slowly and, over several weeks, work your way to 10 to 12 reps and 2 or 3 sets. Do them every other day.
