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As one year ends and a new year begins, we tend to reflect on the time that has passed and look forward to a “fresh start” as we move into a new year. This is also a time when many of us set goals, including things like improving different aspects of our health. For some it’s weight loss, decreasing stress or sleeping better. For others it might be improving diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.  This is also a time many people decide it’s time to FINALLY do something about that nagging lingering pain they’ve been dealing with for months or years. If you’ve been in pain for any length of time you know how much it can affect your life and impact your health. Pain can affect your sleep and your ability to move and stay active, which leads to weight gain and many other health problems.
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Sciatica is just one of the many reasons for Back Pain, but if you ask anyone who has or has had Sciatica, they will probably tell you it is one of the most intense painful experiences they’ve ever had.  I hear things like:
Yep! Today we’re talking all about BUTTS – and BACK PAIN. Glutes, gluteals, buttocks, butt cheeks, fanny, tush or backside – whatever you prefer to call to call them. The glutes are SUPER important muscles. They serve as key stabilizers for the lower back, pelvis, hips and knees – all the way down to the ankle and foot.  Unfortunately, I see way too many people with what I like to call “gluteal amnesia”. Yes, amnesia! Because they have forgotten how to properly activate and use their gluteal muscles.
It’s hard to believe Black Friday is just around the corner! That means it’s almost time for some serious shopping.  Unfortunately, I always get a few patients that end up with new or worsening Back Pain from their Black Friday shopping spree.
So today I want to share some tips to help you avoid Back Pain with your holiday shopping. There are many potential causes of Back Pain, but today I want to highlight something that can often be overlooked…and can also be fixed. That is your pelvis!  If your pelvis is not aligned properly it can lead to Back Pain…and Hip Pain…and Knee Pain…and pelvic floor dysfunction (a.k.a. peeing your pants a little when you cough, sneeze or lift something heavy) and MORE!
Our human nature is to avoid pain. In fact, this instinct to avoid pain is one of our most important built-in self-preservation mechanisms. And while avoiding any movements or exercise that causes pain seems like a good idea, in some cases avoiding pain can often make things like Back Pain even worse.  Confusing right? It’s no wonder I get this question from so many people. So, how do you know if exercise is safe or if it’s going to make things worse?
Great question! One that I hear often from people with back pain. In fact, I’ve already had this same question twice this week and it’s only Tuesday as I write this.  Here’s what one person who called asked:
“I’ve tried all the things that are supposed to help tight muscles like heat, massage and stretching, but nothing seems to work, at least not for very long. So, why are my back muscles always so tight?” An increase in Back Pain complaints is common this time of year and lately I’ve had several people asking this question. And it’s a great question! For many it can be hard to decide whether they should just give it little more time to “WAIT & SEE” if their Back Pain will go away or if it’s time to TAKE ACTION.  I get why this can be a tough decision to make, because most of the time our aches and pains will go away if we give our bodies some time to work through the healing process.
When that doesn’t happen, and the pain doesn’t go away as expected it can be confusing and difficult to decide what to do next. Here are a couple of simple questions you can ask yourself to help you figure out what to do. I’ve heard more stories than I can count about how people have injured their backs. Some stories are terrifying, others can be quite funny, and I’ve heard everything in between. Would it surprise you if I told you most Back Pain isn’t caused by an “injury”?  Most Back Pain is far stealthier! It sneaks up on you for no reason and most people are left without a good story tell to explain their Back Pain.
While I can’t promise you a good story, there are several things that could be causing your Back Pain. With Fall officially here and Winter just around the corner, I’m already starting to hear more complaints of new or worsening Back Pain. In fact, this happens almost every Fall and Winter. As the days get shorter and colder lower backs seem to “unexpectedly” get stiff and achy.  What was once just an occasional dull ache that was easily ignored suddenly gets more annoying, more painful and more limiting every day.
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"Helping active adults overcome persistent aches, pains and injuries, so they can get back to the activities they love and improve their health naturally - without pain medication, injections or surgery."Oregon City, OR
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