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First make the distinction
between and injury and a personally-generated
dysfunction. The personally-generated
dysfunctions happen
over the years and decades as muscles become
weaker and tighter. |
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For at least 80% of
people, musculo-skeletal dysfunction is eminently fixable -
if they're diligent. |
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The pain you're experiencing is telling you
that something is wrong. Your bones are out of alignment.
Fix the problem! The pain goes away. |
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Fix small problems before they become big
problems. Don't just mask the symptom. All that does is
cover up the fact that the dysfunction is getting worse.
Then it becomes a big problem, a big inconvenience, a big
pain and a big expense. |
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Musculo-skeletal dysfunction goes with a body
that is generally in poor condition. For many people a good
physical conditioning program, one which includes the
aerobic, strength and flexibility elements of fitness will
stimulate the restoration of poor function to
good. |
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Every dysfunction has a cause. Find the cause
and treat it and you're likely to fix the dysfunction.
Musculo-skeletal dysfunction rarely comes 'out of the blue'.
It's asking a bit too much to keep blaming bad luck. There
is a cause. If you don't find the cause your search for the
cure is just than more difficult. |
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If you can't work out the cause yourself, and
it is often difficult to analyze your own posture, go to
someone who can, someone who has a good eye for spotting
misalignment, someone who can give you a thorough postural
assessment. This may be a physiotherapist, osteopath or
physical educator, but certainly make sure it is someone who
has a good reputation in the field of postural analysis. |
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The most likely cause is misuse of one sort
or another, usually over a long period of time. If you've
spent 20 or more years sitting down at a desk all day and
don't have a regular and systematic strength, flexibility
and postural alignment program, if you're 20Kg or more over
weight, if you don't already have it
you can be certain that you're on the way to
musculo-skeletal dysfunction. |
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Getting someone to give you an
anti-inflammatory tablet and a massage is unlikely to
provide the long term fix which comes with
strengthening and loosening
the muscles which have taken bones out of alignment. |
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Most big problems start of as small problems
that you don't address. |
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Bones do what muscles tell them to do. If you
have joint pain, the pain is telling you that the muscles
supporting the joint are not doing their job properly. The
pain is telling you to do something to strengthen, loosen
and realign the bones on either side of the joint. |
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Treat joint and muscle pain as a symptom of
dysfunction not a cause. |
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The cause of the pain is rarely at the site
of the pain (trauma excepted). |
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A pelvis that is tilted back will most likely
contribute to lower back and shoulder dysfunction.
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Muscles of the buttock that are not doing
their job properly will contribute to knee pain, as will
feet that are not square. |
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Tight calves, hamstrings and buttocks go with
back., neck and shoulder pain. |
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The body acts as a unit and dysfunction in one spot may lead
to dysfunction in another spot. For instance, RSI may come
from a shoulder dysfunction, which in turn may come from a
pelvis dysfunction, which in turn may come from tight
hamstring and buttock muscles. |
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Most people have slight postural imperfections which end up
causing pain in other parts of their body. You can spot
these imperfections quite easily;
- feet splayed out
- heels leaning in
- knees knocked in or out
- one shoulder lower than the other
- backs of the hands facing forwards in the gorilla posture ...
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The postural imperfections are magnified and exacerbated
by such things as slouching over the computer, holding
the phone between ear and shoulder, by hand and foot
dominance in the sports most regularly played. |
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Get the muscles working properly and there is a good
chance the bones will come back into alignment and
correct function will be restored. How you can expect to
get better without a good strength and flexibility
program beats me! |
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An X-ray and an MRI scan are probably less useful tools
for the diagnosis of the cause of your dysfunction than
a still or video camera. The latter two will more likely
provide you with graphic illustration of the underlying
cause of
your dysfunction. |
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It's not the chair, it's how you sit in it. Once you
habitually change the natural 'S' curve of your spine
into an habitual 'C' curve you're setting yourself up
for musculo-skeletal dysfunction. Misalignment is a fair
bet. |
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If muscles are not getting stronger they're getting
weaker. If they're not getting looser they're getting
tighter. People without a regular and systematic
strength and flexibility program run the risk of
musculo-skeletal dysfunction. |
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It's a big ask expecting your body to get better by
having someone do something to you. Soon or later you
have to do something to yourself - like the exercises
which strengthen, loosen and bring the body back into
correct alignment. |
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Don't leave it to a therapist to take full
responsibility for your dysfunction. Do something to
yourself, like strengthening, stretching and managing
your posture better, there is a good chance it will get
better. The therapy will help. |
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You're wasting your time going to therapists who don't
do their level best to determine the likely cause of
your dysfunction and who don't attempt to affect a cure.
An anti-inflammatory, a rub down, a muscle relaxant and
an electric shock are unlikely to cure your dysfunction! |
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Some therapies when used on their own only provide
temporary relief from the symptoms and are not aimed at
fixing the underlying cause of the dysfunction. |
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Therapy speeds up the rehab
process but doesn't take the place of the things
you need to do for yourself. |
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It is poor form for someone to do something to
you without giving you some insight as to what
has caused your dysfunction and without
supplying you with exercises to go with the
therapy. |
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It is an advanced case of stupidity not to do the
exercises that a good therapist will provide. |
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Stretching is necessary but not sufficient. You need to
strengthen the muscles which support your body in
correct alignment, with specific strength exercises as
well as the general exercises that come as part of a
regular and systematic strength training program. |
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Nutritional supplementation may make a significant
contribution to easing joint and muscle pain. I've heard
good reports about glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate,
brassica juncea, gin-soaked raisins and vitamin B5.
However they too will not take the place of the things
you need to do for yourself. |
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Use a wide range of modalities, regularly and
intensively to speed up the rehabilitation process. Most
people spend less time in ten years than an elite
athlete would spend in a week. That's why they never get
better. |
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Stacking a range of modalities up one on top of the
other may lead to a speedy recovery. This is what sports
people do: - ice, heat, strength, stretch, physio,
acupuncture, massage, walk ... morning tea, then ice,
heat, strength, stretch ... lunch, then ice, heat,
strength, stretch ... afternoon tea ... |
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If you're on workers compensation for musculo-skeletal
dysfunction, treat the rehabilitation process as a full
time job. If you're used to spending eight hours at
work, spend eight hours doing what athletes do to get
better quicker. |
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