As
humans, we often have to be motivated in some way before we actually take to action on so many tasks. Life is busy and our “list” of “to do’s” can seem endless and can add considerable stress to our lives.
Part of the problem is individuals accept “pain-free” as optimal. This is false. The majority of individuals who invest in their health on a preventative basis whether it be with therapy or some form of suitable exercise will not only FEEL much better than the status quo — they will BE better than the status quo.
This investment will likely also make them more productive and less stressed on a number of levels and time frames.
Perhaps it is time to reassess your priorities. How important is your body to you? Is your body more important than your car? How much do you put into preventative maintenance on your car each year? How much are you investing in the longevity of your body?
You may have heard the saying: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” I would like to provide a brief illustration of this as it relates to tight hip muscles.
Reduced flexibility of the hip musculature can come on for a number of reasons including past traumas, prolonged daily sitting postures, strength training, and degenerative disc disease. When the hip muscles are tight, the hip joint capsule can also become restricted and if this is not addressed, osteoarthritis develops and progresses.
When the hip capsule is tight, the knee joint, which is a hinge joint has to take on stresses for which it is not designed. This causes the cartilage of the knee joint to wear out (osteoarthritis) and the space between the thigh bone and the shin bone in the knee is reduced. Then the ligaments in the knee become lax because of the reduced joint space and the process of cartilage breakdown accelerates in the knee as it absorbs not only its own stresses but inappropriate stresses transmitted from the restricted hip.
Now an individual has knee pain for which they may seek therapy. This pain can be managed, but osteoarthritis is irreversible. Addressing the restricted hip now may reduce the knee pain to a degree, but stretching the hip with an unstable osteoarthritic knee is a substantial challenge.
Acupuncture and micro-current may now be necessary to loosen the hip in order to, in part, address the stresses prompting the knee pain. If this same individual saw an experienced physiotherapist before the onset of pain on a preventative basis years earlier, the hip restriction could have been identified before the onset of osteoarthritis in the hip and knee.
With 5 minutes of simple independent stretching 3 times a week, initially instructed by the physiotherapist and carried out at home by the patient, this scenario could have been averted. This is just one of many examples of the value of preventative physiotherapy and chiropractic care.
As regulated health care practitioners, it falls to us to serve our public by increasing awareness of the importance of prevention. Let us address your low back pain, hip osteoarthritis, etc., etc., before it becomes low back pain and osteoarthritis and curses you with debilitating symptoms and functional limitations. A much larger proportion of our caseloads should be patients who are attending for preventative measures to preserve physical health and optimal function.
Don’t let pain be your only motivator. Our practitioners are great “body mechanics.” Take the initiative to call us today — we can help not only take you out of pain but keep you out of pain before it starts.
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