Do you sometimes feel sluggish, tired, achy, sore or have low energy? Most of these problems can be caused by lack of movement. If you sit still for long hours in your car, at your job, or at home watching TV, you are hurting your body over time.
Without frequent movement, your muscles waste away, joints become stiff, and normal chemical processes in your body change. Your circulation and lymphatic systems slow down causing a backup of toxic wastes, such as cholesterol, that are normally produced and excreted by your body.
Lack of movement and poor posture are the frequent causes of chronic low back pain, headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain and pain in the hips / knees or legs. Slumped posture actually changes the shape of your spine, closes the joints of your shoulders, tightens the tissues around the hips and produces a host of other problems.
The fundamental rule of the human body
Your body was designed to move and without it, body systems start to fail. However, movement can at times be limited if you find yourself having pain, stiffness, or general lack of activity. This restriction of movement can lead to other long-term health problems and chronic pain. The key to being healthy is placing a big emphasis on exercising and movement. In order to keep moving, your body needs to be flexible, strong, have good balance, and good nutrition.
Physical Therapy focuses on helping your body achieve optimum performance. With years of specialized training in evaluating movement and function, OUR physical therapists are highly qualified specialists who WILL help you to move better and be healthier. With good movement, pain decreases and the result is more energy and a better overall mood.
Easy steps to increase movement, decrease pain and increase your energy:
- Make the decision to get up and get moving!
- Get up from your chair every 20 minutes, and walk around, even if just for a few seconds.
- Walk or exercise at least 30 minutes everyday.
- Drink water instead of caffeinated and sugar filled drinks.
- Stretch your legs, hips, spine, and neck daily for 10 minutes. (Check out some links to our newsletters – below – for great examples)
- Don’t push into painful movements – work within your available range of motion.
- Make sure you are sitting properly at your desk or computer.
- Take frequent breaks to deeply inhale / exhale.
- Stretch your arms overhead frequently throughout the day.
- Do strengthening exercises at least 2-3 times a week.
If you find yourself in pain, aching, injured, or unable to move like you want to, simply give us a call. At Loudoun Sports Therapy Center, our expert physical therapists provide a comprehensive physical therapy evaluation to find the root cause of your problem. They will then put together a complete plan to help decrease your pain and increase your movement and energy. Call us today to schedule your evaluation and learn more! 703-450-4300
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