Pain Takes No Holiday

There is a reason for pain. Work, Exercise and Athletic Performance requires being acquainted with, and a frequent Companion with Pain. You best be listening to it, and the message it is sending.

Listen to Your Pain

Pain has many valuable functions. It often signals injury or disease, generates a wide range of adaptive behaviors, and promotes healing through rest. Melzack and Katz(2012)  

Why Do We Have Pain

Painful joints and tendons are common signs of overuse, over-training, and  a well-spent youth.

The stress of "too much, too soon and too little preparation" can result in pain.

The continued work of a fatigued muscle can result in pain. You keep working any body on overtime, and you do not give them a break, they will soon complain - they may actually shout.

Some body parts are just more susceptible to pain. Tendons of the rotator cuff, extensor and flexor elbow, patellar and achilles tendon, are problem areas. Now you add the factor of age, no rest, and poor mechanics, and Houston, We Have a Problem. You must listen, and learn from your pain. This means paying attention to what causes pain, but what relieves your pain.

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.” – Khalil Gibran

Life is Movement and Rest. There must be a balance of work:rest.You exercise, and You Recover. If there is not a balance, the energy systems and connective tissues will begin to fail. This is where fatigue, injury, and the cascade of degenerative change occurs in the body.

The take home message is listen to your body. Pain has a purpose. It is the body's way of telling you that something is out of balance, needs rest, and healing. So give yourself a break, if not a holiday, from the routine. 

"Rest is when the efforts of your work manifest gain." - Randy Bauer

If you have a question regarding a pain that just will not quit contact me as that is what I do, Help people with all varieties of pain. I am a physical therapist with  25 years of experience in sports, orthopedic and post-operative conditions. You may have a question about an exercise techniques, or program that can help you achieve new levels of performance in your athletic, fitness and health pursuit.
Leave a comment, or contact me for a consult. LiveNinja/ Randy Bauer for free 20 min. consult.

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