Body Observations: Can You Feel It?

I’ve always believed that repetitive habits make our bodies into what they are. Because I was taught this and because I’ve lived inside a human body for more than five decades. When you’ve been around for a while and are a nerd for bodywork and weird body stuff, you learn a thing or two. And if you’re lucky, you get to use your very own body as a proving ground.

When I worked at a desk for 40+ hours per week, my body didn’t feel good. My butt muscles were dead which made it difficult to walk long distances without experiencing hip, knee, ankle and foot pain. My neck and shoulders were a constant mess from leaning my head forward over empty space while computering. I had a fair number of days when my hands were numb, again from the head dangling over space putting ungodly amounts of pressure on my neck and back, which in turn created problems throughout the thoracic outlet.

When I stopped sitting at a desk and applied some of the knowledge from becoming a massage therapist, things began to change. My body started feeling better. Did pain stop altogether? In some spots, but mostly it just shifted to other places.

Over the years I’ve worked with people who have transitioned jobs or gone from full time work into retirement. And what we notice together is startling. The first and most obvious difference is stress levels drop almost immediately. Then we start to notice that the physical complaints begin to change rather quickly. For example, if they’d been driving a lot in their job, their sciatica, lateral knee pain, or plantar fasciitis symptoms began improving.

Sitting Was the New Smoking

Remember when sitting became the new smoking and everyone wanted a standing desk? People’s pain changed. Most of it didn’t go away, it just moved to reveal the new patterns of pain caused by standing.

Similarly, even after you retire or change jobs, you could have pain. It will most likely be different depending on how you’re using your body for the majority of your time. The good news is, if you’re not locked into an activity that your livelihood depends on, most likely you’ll have control over when you can get up and move around or change the way you’re participating in a given activity that might be generating pain down the line.

Pain isn’t usually so much about how you’re moving, but your inability to vary your movement. There’s a saying in the massage industry, “Motion is lotion.” I think it’s a gross analogy, but it makes the point and most people understand it. You have to move to get/stay pain free.

Can You Feel It

If you’re retired, has your pain patterns or pain intensity levels changed with your changes in physical activity? Do you still feel the same discomforts, or did they go away or change?

If you’re still working, what happens when you go on vacation or away to a conference for several days? Outside of sleeping in a strange bed and perhaps on a strange pillow, how does your body react? Specifically, how does your pain react?

The Big Question

When you’re away from your chosen activity, do your complaints change?

Food for Thought

Not always, but most of the time using your own body as a science lab can lead to better overall health. I think it’s because you’re paying closer attention to your body over a concentrated period of time. I challenge you to start troubleshooting one painful area, see what works to relieve/exacerbate pain. It’s always good news when the pain changes or moves, that means it can respond and eventually go away.

If you need help or suggestions, give me a call!