Living Life Pain Free

We all know how awful toothache can be and that immediate treatment is the only solution to reduce the pain. Well, the same is true of other bodily pains, strains, aches and pulled muscles. However, those treatments often take more time as the muscle needs to repair. Many people have felt the immediate and debilitating effects of back pain.  They also know how involved it can be to get the problem solved.  Indeed, I once heard a doctor say that the best way to avoid bodily pain was to hold on with both hands when walking downstairs in a Dutch home. If you think about it, that makes sense. Would you like to know more about living life pain-free? Pieter tells us how.

 

As in many daily situations, one moment of inattention can lead to a world of pain. A bike wheel is stuck in a tram line, and your world can immediately turn upside down. Even something less shocking – sitting in the same static position every day at your computer. I have known Pieter Faasse for many years. He is the founder and driving force behind Art of Physio in Amsterdam. Pieter and his team help many hundreds of people every year to live pain-free once again. 

 

The purpose of this Living Life Pain-Free Q+A is to get the word direct from the expert about how we can all prepare our bodies against injury. Thank you Pieter for taking the time from your busy schedule to answer our questions. 

 

 

 

 

 

That is a great question! Where most people generally had a commute where they got some movement in, that stopped entirely. That, combined with some stress that comes with uncertain times, impaired social life and fear, is not great for optimal function in the body.

What has been great to see, though, is that more people go walking, running, outdoor (Boot camp) training or other activities that get them out of the house and moving.

 

 

One of the most significant things you can do is make movement a habit throughout the day. This allows blood (and with it oxygen and nutrients) to circulate and keep energy flowing.

For example, always take the stairs instead of the escalators. Instead of taking the car, take the bike or walk. When you have a call that doesn’t need a computer, go outside. When you feel stiff and tight, go stretch. If you feel anxious and jittery, go for a walk outside.

 

 

 

 

 

Back pain is one of those issues we see a lot in the clinic. Most times, it is a combination of different factors that end up causing back pain. A stressful period at work, problems in private life, sleep issues, a lack of self-care. A human body can handle a lot, but a body has its limits.

The best way to mitigate the risk of a back flare-up is to be aware. Your body will always give you signals before something flares up. The first signals are soft whispers. A slight tightness here or there, a little bit more tiredness than usual, and energy is a bit lower or a shorter fuse.

When you fail to listen to those signals, they will ramp up until you can’t ignore them anymore. The more aware you are about your physical, mental and energetic status, the better you’ll be able to see things coming.

One of the ways to check where you are at this moment is to move. Since all systems of your body are connected, the simple act of movement can influence every other systems in your body. Your ability to move has a direct correlation between how you feel and how much energy you have. Free movement equals more flow of energy and vice versa.

On our youtube channel, several videos will take you through ways to improve free movement in your joints.

 

 

Ignoring a problem is seldom the way to solve it optimally.

As a rule of thumb, I always say that when an issue has been bothering you for 2 months, you need to get it assessed. Apparently, just resting it or working around it is not enough. As physios, it is our job to assess the problem and speed up the recovery process by treating it. This gives you the tools to manage your issue better and prevent it from happening in the future.

 

Yoga and Pilates are great ways of training. Millions of people do it regularly and it makes them feel better and stronger. However, when doing yoga or pilates gives you pain, something is wrong. Generally, it is a combination of imperfect execution of the exercises and lacking prerequisites in strength, mobility or control to do that movement. If your classes leave you in pain, I’d advise looking for a healthcare professional to help you understand what you are doing wrong and where you can improve.

In our clinic, we work with everything from yoga instructors to office workers and everyone in between.

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