Pain makes us slow down and be more cautious in our movements. There are good reasons for this – but what if lack of movement is creating a negative feedback loop which maintains that pain and even makes it worse?

Pain comes with a whole package of assumptions – memory of injury, fear of further damage, lack of information about what you can and can’t do, and a ton of unhelpful beliefs. Avoiding movement quickly becomes a pattern and a cause of problems in itself. But rather than assume musculo-skeletal pain is from tissue injury or ‘wear and tear’, we can take a positive health approach and show that the ‘motion is the lotion’. So…

Stay gently active
Exercise regularly
Be mindful of pain but not governed by it

Our joints can repair

We’re bioplastic. What does that mean? Bioplasticity describes the body’s ability to repair, heal and adapt to the demands placed upon it. Just as we see neuroplasticity in the brain producing new neurons right into old age, our bodies too are responsive and adaptable. We should be thinking in terms of ‘wear and repair’ not ‘wear and tear’.

Recent studies have shown that a combination of physical therapy and ‘pain science’ education is a great way to overcome the vicious circle of fear and restriction caused by conditions like osteoarthritis or injury. Where people are often confused about the causes of pain, how long it will last and what to do about it, participating in an exercise program and getting accurate information about pain helps not just the injury but also the related stress and anxiety. And that’s where our physio and chiropractors can help. Know that you can trust your body. It knows how to repair itself – especially with expert support.

Come and see us for a check up and find out how to repair the wear.