I have that “normal” back pain.
I have that “normal” neck pain.
I have those “normal” headaches.
These are things I hear all the time when talking with clients, friends, and even complete strangers. And my heart deflates a bit every time I hear it.
While low back pain, neck pain, and headaches are common, common is NOT normal. So many people struggle with these types of pains on a weekly and even daily basis that it is frequently accepted as normal.
I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way.
There are many factors that contribute to back pain, neck pain, and headaches.
Key factors causing back pain, neck pain, & headaches
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High stress
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Poor Posture
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Physically & Emotionally Demanding Work
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Daily activities
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Poor Sleep
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Poor Nutrition
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Lifestyle
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Muscle imbalance
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& overall strength and fitness
These factors all contribute to how a person feels physically. The higher the stress on the body, especially combined with poor coping and recovery strategies, the more likely someone is to feel physical pain and/or fatigue.
Think about it, how often have you complained of pain or headaches while on vacation as opposed to in the office?
stress comes in many forms
This stress doesn’t have to be just emotional or mental stress.
It can be:
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intense workouts
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training for a race
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being a caregiver or parent
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working long hours
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lack of sleep (less than 7 hours)
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and the list goes on...
Stress is anything that taxes the body emotionally and physically. To prevent stress from turning into physical pain, it needs to be managed with things that help the body recover.
recovery is more than just taking a break
Recovery can include things like
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proper nutrition
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stretching
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foam rolling
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getting enough sleep (7-8 hours)
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spending time with loved ones
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spending time alone
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mindfulness
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and doing things that bring you joy and relaxation...
When any of these things in your life are out of balance, it can contribute to neck pain, back pain, and headaches.
The key is to get to the root cause of what is causing the pain and fix that.
Want to learn more about natural ways to reduce stress?
Read our blog: Feeling Stressed? You're Not Alone
Want help finding the root cause of your stress(es) and developing a plan to get rid of your back pain, neck pain, and headaches?
a holistic approach to physical therapy
That is the core of my physical therapy practice. I find out the factors that are affecting how my clients feel physically.
We work with muscle imbalance, strength, posture, and how you move your body. We also work with stress, sleep, and nutrition.
For example, a lot of headaches are caused from increased muscle tension in the neck and shoulders. If this muscle tension is caused by stress, we have to fix how that person handles stress to truly eliminate the headaches.
If you are one of those people who has accepted your pain as “normal” and believe it can never get better, I’m here to tell you there is an alternative. Now, I will admit that there are some chronic conditions where pain may frequently be present, but even that can be better managed.
Reach out to a physical therapist, we are specifically trained in how to transform your life and get you performing better than you ever thought possible.
Written by Dr. Stephanie Duffey, PT, DPT
Owner of Empower Physio and Wellness, LLC