SPORTS MASSAGE IN CHORLEY FOR POOR MOBILITY
For many people, being able to move easily is something they take for granted...until one day, they can't move as easily as they used to be able to. This is called restricted or poor mobility.
Find out more about restricted mobility, how it happens and what you can do to treat it, both at home and by seeing a medical professional, and how having a sports massage at Muscle Mender in Buckshaw Village, Chorley, can help people struggling with difficulty moving, restricted mobility and pain on movement.
ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH RESTRICTED MOBILITY?
Written by Arran Tomlinson, Sports Massage Therapist at Muscle Mender, Buckshaw Village, Chorley
There's lots of jokes about how when we are young, we can do all kinds of crazy things and not hurt ourselves, but when we get older we can sneeze funny and end up hurting ourselves.
Although it's funny, there is some truth in the fact that as we get older, our bodies get older and less flexible. It's very common for this to lead to activities that seem easy causing us pain.
SO WHAT HAPPENS AS WE GET OLDER?
Very simply, as our body ages, our bones become more brittle, and our muscles become less dense. The ligaments and tendons become less flexible. Movements become more difficult and our bodies are not able to adapt to fast, fluid movements in the same way that we could when we were younger.
Most adults end up having either sedentary jobs (where movement is restricted due to working from a desk) or jobs that involve a lot of repetitive movement (painting, production lines, check out staff and so on). Activity time is normally concentrated into a shorter burst (like an hour at the gym or a midweek run), generally from a "standing start" meaning that the body doesn't get chance to warm up properly. This results in us feeling even more stiff and uncomfortable after exercise.
Of course, then what happens is that it hurts to move, so we move less. It might be enough to put you off that type of exercise altogether. Going from being quite sedentary to exercising can also be physically tiring, leading to people wanting to stay still (a nice sit down!) instead.
It's all a bit of a vicious circle!
HOW TO KEEP MOVING PAIN FREE AS YOU GET OLDER
Regular, light exercise can help keep us moving, but heavier, weight bearing exercise is really good for bone density, too. Finding an activity that you enjoy can make it easier to keep going through any mild discomfort, too.
It's worth knowing that, when it comes to movement, there is a curious piece of science called the "exercise paradox". This shows that our body doesn't treat all kinds of movement as being the same. When we move because of work or forced movement, our bodies react differently than when we move for an enjoyable or leisure activity. It's been suggested that this is linked to the psychological stress of working that is not present when we do an activity for fun. So it's important not to assume that you are active enough just because you do a physical job!
As we become older, nutrition becomes more important too, along with getting enough sleep - both things that are more difficult to fit around work and family life as an adult.
HOW SPORTS MASSAGE CAN HELP KEEP YOU MOVING AS YOU GET OLDER
Sports massage helps with restricted movement in several ways.
Firstly, a good sports massage, like that offered by me at Muscle Mender in Chorley, helps stimulate muscles and improve blood flow into the ligaments and tendons. It can help reduce aches and pains meaning that you feel more comfortable moving.
Secondly, sports massage can be relaxing and encourage "feel good" endorphins. Even when a massage is a bit more uncomfortable, it can still reduce blood pressure and lower the heart rate - these are physiological responses to being touched in a therapeutic way.
Thirdly, from a psychological point of view, many of us are emotionally disconnected from our bodies. Sports massage can help us appreciate our bodies and their abilities more than before, and that in turn can make us want to look after them more. And as a qualified Personal Trainer, I know what you should be doing to look after your body, so it can keep looking after you, too!
Aches and pains don't have to be inevitable as you get older, and sports massage can help keep you moving!
Sadly, many older people feel embarrassed about seeking help for restricted mobility - perhaps they feel that there is no point, or that they will be given a lecture or made to feel silly or foolish.
At Muscle Mender, I want everyone - whatever their age - to enjoy moving freely without pain. There's no judgement or criticism of clients who choose to come and see me. All I want to do is help you feel comfortable in your body again.
If you'd like to come and see me due to age related aches and pains, you can book an appointment, but if you have any worries or concerns that are stopping you from booking, why not give me a call and chat thorough those worries with me?