So many of us struggle with pain, whether it's due to an injury or an overstressed lifestyle. We must find ways to relieve the everyday tension we experience. It can be a challenge to navigate all the options we have for pain management. How we navigate life's wear and tear directly affects our happiness. Whole body pain management is essential for longevity. We’re going to look at the most common pain points and injuries of the body and discover how to prevent and recover from them.
Think of the body like a tree. Holistic medicine teaches us that even when one branch of the body may be sick we must acknowledge that the whole of us is well. It teaches us that more is going right within our bodies for us to function at all. A healthy mindset is one that takes in the perspective of wholeness. To view ourselves in our entirety and take care of that self, mind, body and spirit. Pain can distract us from the feeling of wellness, therefore it's important to pay attention to how we feel and properly take care and make our lives as enjoyable and pain-free as possible.
Upper back and neck pain can be debilitating. This kind of pain is multi-faceted and requires a broad approach to heal. Neck pain is a guidepost that something is out of balance, whether it’s a tension strain or injury, we must learn to hear the whispers of the body before they become screams. Yoga, meditation, acupuncture and massage are all easily accessible healing modalities you can use to increase the overall well-being of the upper back and neck. These tools are excellent for whole body pain management.
Yoga utilizes the movement of the body to release tension in all areas of the human frame including the back and neck. Deep twisting and extended breathing techniques used throughout the practice bring not only a deep sense of calm but a palpable benefit to the structure of the body.
Meditation focuses the mind and aligns all aspects of the person into a state of peace and awareness, this can relieve neck and back tension that is caused by stress or overthinking.
Acupuncture is a great way to manually open up the channels of the body. Tension and inflammation block the body's energy channels. Acupuncture oxygenates and brings blood to blocked areas. Tiny needles are inserted into areas that bring the most results and can be extremely beneficial in relieving pain.
Massage is a popular well-known remedy to ease sore necks and upper back pain. Muscles hold not only physical tension but emotional tension as well. A deep tissue, Swedish or Ashiatsu Oriental bar therapy session is a great way to release neck/back pain and renew the body entirely.
The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the human body. Sciatic nerve fibers originate in the lumbar spine, attach together and then run down the pelvis, under the piriformis, and down the back of the legs, all the way down to the toes. Severe sciatic nerve pain can be felt all the way down the leg into the feet!
Cases of sciatica are caused by either the sciatic nerve or connecting nerves, being pinched or compressed. Common sources of this condition are lifting without proper alignment, sitting too much and poor alignment of the hips and spine.
Thank goodness there are natural ways that are easy to apply to help ease this common injury. Magnesium is an excellent way to help relax your muscles and calm your nervous system. Partner your magnesium with vitamin d for better absorption in the body.
Chiropractic care, acupuncture and massage are cited throughout medical research as effective treatments for sciatic nerve pain! A chiropractor can readjust your spine and address the cause of the nerve compression. The same is true for acupuncture treatments, however, your practitioner will use small needles to target specific energy pathways in the body. The tiny, virtually pain-free placement of the needles combined with herbs, will amp up your body’s natural energy to create healing in the body.
A massage therapist will manually work with muscles and fascia around the injury site so that your body can flush out toxic inflammation, increase circulation and promote healing and restoration.
The strength and flexibility of your hamstrings have a huge impact on your posture, mobility and
comfort in your lower back region. Whether the pain is mild, or acute, most adults struggle with keeping the low back pain-free. Most people are unaware that tight and weak hamstrings play a huge role in lower back discomfort. Caring for your hamstrings is arguably one of the most important remedies and prevention tools for low back pain. Tight hamstrings have the power to tilt your pelvis and negatively impact the alignment of your spine.
Stretching, using trigger point therapy balls and foam rollers and working with a massage therapist are the easiest way to address tight hamstrings. Yoga and functional stretching, no doubt, are highly effective tools to bring your body into balance. Learn poses and stretches that build core strength, hip openers and poses that stretch and strengthen your hamstrings.
Therapy balls and foam rollers are excellent for myofascial release, igniting rehabilitation and improving overall health. With just the weight of your body you can achieve deep release of the hamstrings or any other targeted area. Finding a massage therapist is key to unlocking health in all portions of the body as well!
Everywhere you go your feet have gone first and if they’re not feeling well, it can be a real bummer for your active lifestyle. Plantar fasciitis can be extremely painful and can stop you in your tracks. The sharp pain radiating in the heal can bring your exercise regimen to a halt. If you’ve ever experienced this nagging injury you know how difficult it can be to navigate. Some factors play a key role in this painful condition.
Poor stretching habits and overworking the body can create micro-tears to the plantar fascia. This band of tissue can be overworked or overstretched and creates a huge issue for everyday life and exercise regimens.
Wear proper shoes and spend time barefoot to stretch and strengthen your feet. High heels, shoes with poor arch support, old running shoes, and flip flops are all issues around good foot support. Spending time barefoot walking, dancing and doing yoga are all great activities to enhance foot health and strength. Due to modern footwear, poor hip and core strength, and a more sedentary lifestyle, most people’s feet over-pronate, leaving them at risk. Stretching calves, performing hip openers and lunges, squats, stretching feet and toes will all help in prevention of plantar fasciitis. Rest, ice and stretch are good rules of thumb for most common injuries and great for whole body pain management.
Taking care of your body is the best way to ensure a happy fulfilling life. Whole body pain management leads to life without physical limits held back by pain. At Zama we have sought after treatments to address all the areas of your life that could benefit from self-care! Visit us and learn how to address the most common ailments that can slow you down. We will help you design a spa regimen that fits your specific needs!