A common complaint for many of my office-worker clients or from those who do not regularly exercise, is back pain.
Whilst personal trainers rarely (or should never) claim to be a physiotherapist or chiropractor, a structured exercise regime focusing on correcting poor movement patterns is often a simple and easy answer to this problem.
Common complaints include headaches and stiff neck, aches and pains in the lumbar/lower back, pain in the upper/mid back, and general joint stiffness and immobility.
Many of the above ailments are caused by tight muscles that have gradually become stiff and immobile due the sedentary lifestyles that we find ourselves living (thanks to the wonders of cars, X-Box, and remote controls).
If the body spends too long in certain positions, such as seated hunched over a desk or game controller, then muscles on the front of the body such as the pectorals and anterior deltoids can slowly tighten and the body gets used to this position.
As a result, muscles on the back, particularly rear deltoids, rhomboids and trapezius can be weak and inactive.
Thus, shoulders are pulled forwards a little.
Strengthening these posterior muscle groups can slowly correct these issues, along with regular stretching of the anterior (frontal) muscles.
A qualified personal trainer will be more than capable of taking you through this sort of regime.
Lower back pain is often caused by a continued forward flexion of the lumbar spine, which puts gradual and sustained pressure on the various muscles in that area, causing discomfort after periods of sitting.
Again, office based / seated work can be to blame here, as well as the tendency to a more lazy and hunched seated position (shoulders forwards, lower back arched towards seat-back) The lumbar spine prefers to be in a neutral position (slightly curved, with a slight "hollow") and the muscular structure itself is able to perform best in this position.
Headaches and migraines are often caused by very localized tension in the muscles of the neck (levetator scapulae) and upper trapezius.
Stress at work and poor posture can lead to a constant tensing of these muscles, almost on a subconscious scale, which can lead to pain an tension felt nearby - in many cases in the form of headaches.
Again, stretching and exercise can be a solution.
The general release of stress and other negative emotions that comes with training can be a very liberating feeling, and my clients regularly report feeling happier, more energized and "de-stressed" after a personal training session.
So, to quickly treat minor aches and tense muscles - get yourself down the gym, speak to a trainer and have a dose of resistance training!
Whilst personal trainers rarely (or should never) claim to be a physiotherapist or chiropractor, a structured exercise regime focusing on correcting poor movement patterns is often a simple and easy answer to this problem.
Common complaints include headaches and stiff neck, aches and pains in the lumbar/lower back, pain in the upper/mid back, and general joint stiffness and immobility.
Many of the above ailments are caused by tight muscles that have gradually become stiff and immobile due the sedentary lifestyles that we find ourselves living (thanks to the wonders of cars, X-Box, and remote controls).
If the body spends too long in certain positions, such as seated hunched over a desk or game controller, then muscles on the front of the body such as the pectorals and anterior deltoids can slowly tighten and the body gets used to this position.
As a result, muscles on the back, particularly rear deltoids, rhomboids and trapezius can be weak and inactive.
Thus, shoulders are pulled forwards a little.
Strengthening these posterior muscle groups can slowly correct these issues, along with regular stretching of the anterior (frontal) muscles.
A qualified personal trainer will be more than capable of taking you through this sort of regime.
Lower back pain is often caused by a continued forward flexion of the lumbar spine, which puts gradual and sustained pressure on the various muscles in that area, causing discomfort after periods of sitting.
Again, office based / seated work can be to blame here, as well as the tendency to a more lazy and hunched seated position (shoulders forwards, lower back arched towards seat-back) The lumbar spine prefers to be in a neutral position (slightly curved, with a slight "hollow") and the muscular structure itself is able to perform best in this position.
Headaches and migraines are often caused by very localized tension in the muscles of the neck (levetator scapulae) and upper trapezius.
Stress at work and poor posture can lead to a constant tensing of these muscles, almost on a subconscious scale, which can lead to pain an tension felt nearby - in many cases in the form of headaches.
Again, stretching and exercise can be a solution.
The general release of stress and other negative emotions that comes with training can be a very liberating feeling, and my clients regularly report feeling happier, more energized and "de-stressed" after a personal training session.
So, to quickly treat minor aches and tense muscles - get yourself down the gym, speak to a trainer and have a dose of resistance training!
SHARE
