Categories
Uncategorized

Your 6 packs and that neck pain

With the gyms finally, open I see dozens of urban fitness freaks frequenting them again. Every month parallelly I see a considerable number of patients who are gym regulars and confused about their every present neck pain. Memory foam ergonomic pillows rolled towel to no pillows they seem to have done it all with little or no relief. 

May the forces be with you

I am a strong believer in the power of forces within you and outside you to shape you. And let me tell you why

Our  urban forced abs

Abdominals aka abs are a flexible connection between 2 cages. The ribs and the pelvis. As they are functionally so strategic we have them oriented in different directions and functioning as a cohesive unit. This brings me to the most adored and photographed muscle of all “ Rectus abdominis” aka the Six-packs

Your neck and the six-packs

We have 2 recti abdominis muscles one on either side of the midline structure called the linea alba. They are long strip-like muscles connecting the lower ribs and the sternum or the breast bone to the pelvis. When contracted they bring the rib cage and the pelvis closer as in a curl up position. Optimal length and tension in these are important to keep the ribs, shoulder, and pelvis in neutral, maintain the normal curves and function of the spine and allow the diaphragm which is the main respiratory muscle to move fully. This in turn keeps the shoulders and neck relaxed. PS( for more details on these mechanics please read my previous blog  Breathing our immunity booster section Stress breathing ).

Dominoes effect

Those crunches, sit-ups, and roll-ups done to give definition only pull the ribs and pelvis closer, curl us up more, and flatten out normal curves. This curled spine shortens the pectorals which are our chest muscles. These in turn pull the shoulders forward and inwards. . To maintain a normal gaze the neck has to overarch and poke the chin forwards. 

Over a period this inefficient position sensitizes the neck, fatigues the stability muscle, and here we are The persistent pain, stiffness, and discomfort. 

So does it really matter what props you use when you sleep as long as you don’t correct how you use your body at rest and during movements?

Enough with the heavy nerdy part… My suggestion for a happy neck is to Do the unthinkable “ let go of your abs “ …I Will be putting up my next blog on how-to and till then Belly breathe and let go

Categories
Uncategorized

Hips don’t lie

I am super excited to talk about hips today. You guessed it right, I am a great fan of Shakira, and as she rightly sang “Hips don’t lie” they really don’t. Hip joints are the mobile connection between the thigh and the pelvic cage. They balance the movement and orientation of the thigh, knee, ankle, and foot. Decide which part of the foot strikes the ground, how much force it strikes with, and how does it clear the ground. They also give stability to the low back vertebra and the pelvic floor as strong muscles like glutes, flexors, rotators, and adductors cross the hip and move it in specific ways.

Our furniture cage

We love our chairs, furniture, and our desk jobs. All of these do not need us to use the hips to their full range and capacity. After a few years in this captivity, the body cleverly stops using it to its full capacity… If you don’t use it you lose it

Making do with weak hips

For starters, they are called compensations and over time become faulty patterns. 

Knee caps looking at each other( means the hips are rotated inwards ) while squatting or getting up from a chair.

One foot turned out while standing

Leaning forward a lot more while getting up.

Simple Check

 Unsupported Standing on 1 leg– Stand with feet pelvis width distance and parallel to each other. Lift one foot up keeping the hip and knee at 90 degrees. Try to hold this position for 30 sec to 1 min each side without losing balance, taking support, or hiking the hip.

Moving those Hips

Single leg standing – Same as described above. Try to hold for 30 sec each side and repeat 3-5 times every hour.

SIde leg standing– Stand the same as above. Lift 1 leg sideways upward keeping the balance. Repeat and hold as above.

Back leg standing– Stand same as above. Lift 1 leg backward keeping the knee straight and the toes pointed forward. Keep the ribs in line with the pelvis while lifting the leg backward. Hold and repeat as above.

 Knee caps facing forwards always –While getting up or sitting make sure to keep the knee caps facing forwards.

Chair squat- stand facing the back of a sturdy chair. Place your palms on the back of the chair. Keeping the knee caps forward and bend the knee 5-8 cms keeping the weight on the heels. Breathe in as you go down and out as you come up. Repeat as above. Make sure to keep the ribs in line with the hips.

The key to keeping those hips healthy and active is to use them regularly during the day. Make your day’s natural movement rich with getting on the floor if medically possible, walking barefoot, kneeling, and crawling … Signing off for now and hoping that you move those hips more ….

Categories
Uncategorized

21 healthy changes for 2021

I call 2020 a phenomenal year and before you tag me as a chronic cynic let me add that it has made us embrace uncertainty and trust the wait. As an analytical person, I started making small doable changes in my routine and am amazed at the positive effects they have on me and my family.  So Sharing them with you…

  • Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning
  • Have your breakfast within 45 min of waking up
  • Stretch in the bed for 5 min before getting off
  • Wake up with natural light
  • Avoid seeing any screen for 30 min after waking up
  • Start your day with 3 to 5 belly breaths
  • Eat a protein and carb-rich breakfast
  • When on the potty relax, lean forward to empty your bowels fully
  • Take small sips of water every hour
  • When working from home try different sitting positions like long sitting, floor sitting, cushion, or cross-legged sitting
  • Take a 15 to 30-sec movement break every hour
  • Give your eyes the much-needed TLC they require. After 1 to 2 hours of screen time gently massage your closed eyes with the palm of your hands
  • Snack every 2 hours
  • Stroll for 10-15 min after every meal
  • Sleep and wake up at the same time every day
  • Be outdoor for 20-30 min every day to get your regular dose of vit d
  • Turn off the electronic devices 1 hour before your sleeping time
  • Even if you wake in the middle of your sleep try belly breathing and keep the eyes closed instead of looking at your screen.
  • Set realistic goals for yourself and others
  • Practice gratitude
  • Accept that any change is difficult but the key to success is the belief that you are doing the right thing for yourself.

Signing off for now with the hope that these habits help you to be the most fabulous version of yourself…… Happy upgrading

Categories
Uncategorized

MOVEMENT VARIETY AND YOU

An otherwise lazy Sunday afternoon turned into an eye-opener thanks to my children inviting me to play with them. There were climbing, hanging, crouching, and sliding activities. A child’s play soon turned out to be the most challenging play for the mom. I have always been proud of my ability to do structured fitness work but 30 min into these movements I was completely exhausted much to my surprise.

A deeper thought made me realize how much I had cast myself into repetitive movements denying myself the movement variety. It had slowly made the movement maps in my brain fuzzy with disuse. That’s why I found the natural movements so unnatural. We are designed to move and move task-oriented. That’s what would engage our brains else after a few times we function on autopilot. Thus we compromise innate fitness for aesthetic fitness.

So how to move naturally in the urban world? I am listing a few things which have helped me and hoping to add to this

1. Move with a purpose.. a walk to get groceries or walk the dog.

2. Ditch the tracking apps. Those numbers don’t mean anything to our brains.

3. Slowly transition to floor sitting

4. Try to wear your pants with minimal support.

5. Stack your pots and pans on the lowest rack. You will be able to add more squats to your day.

6. Use a squatty potty 

7. Play on the floor with your children.

8. Accept that any change would be difficult in the beginning so be kind to yourself.

HAPPY UNCASTING

Categories
Uncategorized

FROZEN SHOULDER AKA SHOULDER PAIN

Hi, this blog is dedicated to one of the most common conditions of the shoulder “ Frozen shoulder” also called Periarthritis of the shoulder.

What is it?

A condition characterized by pain and stiffness in the shoulder most common in diabetics.

How does it feel?

Nagging pain soon turns into a sharp shooting and intense pain in the shoulder going up to the elbow.

Difficulty in doing movements which involve turning of the arm at the shoulder – combing hair, toweling the back, lifting and turning to wear clothes.

Increased pain at night causing disturbed sleep.

Feeling of fatigue.

Stages it presents and tips to manage

FREEZING

Sharp and intense pain

Sleep disturbance

What to do

Apply ice / hot pack 3-5 min every hour for pain relief.

Belly breathing 3-5 times each hour.

Wall angle- Stand against the wall with feet shoulder-width distance. Slightly pinch the shoulder blades together without pushing the ribs forward. Keeping the arms by the side with palms facing the body, breathe in and slowly turn the thumbs outwards keeping the chest and shoulders relaxed. Repeat 3 to 5 times. Once comfortable in this position raise the arms sideways by 5 cms keeping the elbows straight and repeat the same movement. Increment by 5 cms till your arms touch the ears.

FROZEN STAGE

Pain is less but there is more restriction of movement especially rotation.

What to do

Move the joint slowly in pain-free ranges 2-3 times every hour.

Focus on keeping the shoulders down and relaxed during movements.

Start with 30 min of walking which improves the overall pain sensitivity.

Wall angle

Rotation with bent elbows-Be seated comfortably. keep the elbows close to the ribs bent at 90 degrees and maintaining this position and the lower ribs down open the hands outwards keeping the fingers and the wrist in line with the forearm. Once opened to the maximum pain-free point try to bring the hands towards the midline to make a namaskar position.  Repeat 3-5 times every hour.

THAWING STAGE

 The pain is less , range of movement is uptill the shoulder or 90 degrees . Overhead movements are still painfull and require you to twist the body, hike the shoulder or bend sideways.

What to do

Same as above.

Shoulder blade squeeze– Be seated with the neck and shoulders relaxed. Breathe in and gently pinch the shoulder blades together without pushing the ribs in the front. Hold for 2-3 counts breathe out and relax. Repeat 2-3 times every hour.

Standing against the wall and leaning to 1 side with the ribs-Stand against the wall with the lower ribs against it. Drop and relax the shoulders, jaw, and even your belly. Lift the arm up to shoulder level sideways such that the little finger is against the wall and lean towards the same side without moving the hips and the feet. Stop and ease into the position where you feel a pull in the lower back. Repeat as above.

Kneeling on all fours- Be seated with the buttocks on the heels position on the floor or any firm surface. Place the hands forward with palms on the floor and shoulder-width distance. Keep the elbows straight but soft and come to kneeling position such that the palms are directly under the shoulders, knees hip width distance and the shoulders relaxed and down. Breathe in into the belly, pinch the shoulder blades together , out and relax. Repeat as above.

Hope all these techniques help you .. Keep moving as the movement moves you

Categories
Uncategorized

MOVING WITH PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Hi, welcome to my new blog on Plantar fasciitis, a condition very common to anyone with feet. It is the inflammation of the sheet-like tissue in the sole of the foot just near the heel.

Our fascia plays a very important role during weight-bearing activities. It acts as a shock absorber, helps in proper weight distribution in the foot, and acts as a spring to help the foot clear the ground aka Push off.

As it is constantly used it often gets overused and inflamed.

Common symptoms are

Pain in the heel during standing and walking.

Burning in the sole

Severe pain in the morning as soon as getting up from the bed which eases a bit with movements.

Most patients find walking painful and ask me if they could avoid it completely for some time. My answer to this is no and here is why

Walking if done correctly improves the circulation to the foot, motor control of the small muscles, and maintains the extensibility of the fascia. All of these are essential for quicker healing and being pain-free. Listing a few strategies which have helped my patients

Barefoot walking on soft surfaces like carpet, beach sand, or grass. This can be done for 5 minutes every 1 hour.

Toe splay–  Be seated in a comfortable position. Keep the foot relaxed. Try to open the toes out keeping the toes and the heel in contact with the ground. Repeat 3 to 5 times every hour.

Foot mobility work-  Be seated as above with feet hip-width distance. Without changing the position of the heel curl the toes such that you would want to scrunch a towel under the foot. Repeat as above.

Wring stretch- Place the foot to be stretched on the opposite knee. Hold the toes loosely with one hand and the heel with another. Gently turn the toes in one direction and the heel in the opposite direction. You will feel a stretch or pull in the sole of the foot. Hold the position for 10 to 15 counts. Can repeat as above. Can do it the first thing in the morning as soon as you wake up.

Ball rolling– Place the foot on a tennis ball and gently roll lengthwise. Repeat 3-5 times every hour.

Hope these strategies help you to manage your pain and be pain-free… Take care

Categories
Uncategorized

BREATHING OUR FIRST IMMUNITY BOOSTER

With novel coronavirus rocking the world I feel that our perspective on health has become more preventive than rehabilitative. As a pain clinician, the power of proper breathing has always fascinated me. Using breath as a natural painkiller and immunity booster has been the core of my prescriptive treatment. This blog is for those of you who want to take charge of your health and immunity. 

What are our breathing parts?

Rib cage and lungs-Lungs are enclosed in a mobile structure called the rib cage. It is moved by muscles called the Intercostals ( between the ribs), muscles of the spine, muscles of the neck and shoulders.

Diaphragm– Dome-shaped muscle separating the chest and abdominal cavity. Its flattening helps us to fill the air in the lungs and doming up pushes the air gently out. It is the main breathing muscle.

Abdominals– The outward movement of the abdominals help in the downward descent of the diaphragm. They set the rhythm of the diaphragm and the overall rate and quality of breathing.

Stress breathing

 Repetitive postures like prolonged chair sitting and tight clothing causes rounded shoulders and sucked in belly. This does not the free outward movement of the abs leading to reduced movement of the diaphragm. Due to this we unknowingly start overusing the muscles in the neck and shoulders causing further stooping. This causes shallow breathing from the upper chest, increasing the breath rate and reducing the quality. In short faulty breath, pattern puts our sympathetic system into overdrive and causing immune hyperactivity to fight an unknown antigen. Years into this pattern overuses the immune system and causes metabolic fatigue. This is a point where the immune system is unable to fight the real antigen as it is tired of fighting an imaginary one.

POSTURE HACKS

 1.While chair sitting try to sit away from the back of the chair. This helps to train a neutral spine

2.Untuck your tailbone ie unround your lower back.

3. Sit on your sit bones.

4. Can try a different sitting position like floor sitting, low cushion sitting.

5. While standing back your pelvis and hips back. 

6.Always hinge from the hips to bend and not from the waist. 

7.Keep the shoulders down and back and keep the lower ribs down.

WHAT TO DO

Kneeling chest opener– Kneel on all fours with the hands right under the shoulders. Keep the shoulders and spine relaxed. Breathe in and pinch the shoulder blades together without lifting the hands … breathe out and come back to starting position. Breathe in 4 counts and out 4 .. slowly aim at making the exhale double of inhale. Repeat 2-3 times every 90 min.

 Belly breathe in kneeling-  Starting position same as above. Breathe in and allow the belly to loosen towards the floor. Breathe out and gently pull the navel to the spine without arching or rounding the back.. Breath count and rep same as above.

Bearhug– Sit cross-legged or in a chair, breathe in and lift the arms up and outward. Breathe out, curl the spine and hug yourself gently. Repeat and breath count as above. 

Belly breathing – Can do this in any position like sitting, standing lying or even moving. Mindful practice keeps stress breathing low. Choose any comfortable position . Keep the spine in neutral and relax or drop the shoulders . Breathe in counting to 4 such that the abdominals move out . Keeping the same neutral breathe out gently counting to 8 pulling the navel gently to the spine.. Repeat as comfortable. 

Hope the above read helps you to breathe well and remain healthy…. Take care

Categories
Uncategorized

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS AND YOU

Hi, this blog is for those of you suffering from neck pain which simply doesn’t leave you and wondering what to do.

What is it?

SPONDYLOSIS in simple terms is a degenerative condition of the spinal discs. It is age-related wear and tears. Studies suggest that already 1 in 4 of us have it.

What does it feel like?

Painful muscle spasm in the Beck, upper back, shoulder, and arm.

Numbness and tingling in the fingertips in case of nerve compression.

Frequent headaches aggravated by any turning of the head.

Trouble keeping your body balance.

Sleep disturbances due to pain or discomfort are common.

Though by textbook it’s a degenerative and age-related condition I now see more younger and middle-aged adults suffering from this. 

Posture and pain

Work from home, online classes, and virtual meetups mean more screen time for work and leisure.

More sustained stooped posture with rounded shoulders, forward head, and poking chin.

This abnormal and stressful position of the head weakens the upper back muscles. Now with little or no support from the strong upper back musculature, the small muscles of the head and neck have to work extra hard to position the head in neutral. This leads to a fatigue-pain cycle, causing continual or relapsing neck pain and headaches.

What to do?

Shoulder blade squeeze- Be seated with the neck and shoulders relaxed. Breathe in and gently pinch the shoulder blades together without pushing the ribs in the front. Hold for 2-3 counts breathe out and relax. Repeat 2-3 times every hour.

Standing belly breathing

Stand comfortably with feet hip-width distance against a wall such that the upper back and the hips are in contact with the wall. Breathe into the belly keeping the shoulders, jaw, and neck relaxed. Breathe out through the nose gently keeping the torso and upper body relaxed. Keep the lower ribs down throughout the movement. You can start with inhaling of 3 counts and exhale to 3. Once this is comfortable focus on making the exhale double of inhaling. Repeat 2 times every hour.

Chin tucks- Be seated in a comfortable position and just move the chin to the back of your head keeping the head in line with the neck. You will feel some work at the back of the neck. Repeat 2-3 times every hour. Can do it lying on the back or on the chest too if comfortable.

Mindfulness at work– Every hour take a 10-sec break, just scan for any tension in the face, jaw, neck, shoulder, and temples.  If you find any tension just gently Close your eyes and breathe as gently as possible focusing more on your exhale. Repeat 2 to 3 times.

Hope these strategies help you to manage your pain and be pain-free… Wishing you a movement-rich life.

Categories
Uncategorized

MOVING THE YOGA WAY

Covid 19 has put us all into a mandatory captivity and a new normal. Here are my two cents on this.

New normal

Work from home, online classes, and virtual meetups mean more screen time for work and leisure.

More sustained postures with rounded shoulders, forward head, and poking chin.

Increased chair sitting reduces hip and knee flexibility.

Less weight-bearing activities lead to reduced bone mineral density.

More screen time disrupts melatonin production and hence reduces the quality and quantity of sleep.

All of these cause chronic fatigue, irritability, painful muscle knots, or myofascial triggers.

As a pain clinician, this is where I find my patients in a classic Pain -Weakness cycle.

How can yoga help?

Yoga is a way of life and an experiential science. For this blog, I am going to focus on the movement component of yoga ie Asanas.

The practice of asanas makes us move the body in the range we don’t usually move. This improves flexibility and overall coordination.

Frees up the tight hips and groin muscles

Breathing while holding the asanas makes us mindful of the pattern of breathing and helps to improve the quality rate and depth of breathing.

Increases the secretion of our feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin,  endorphins and reduces the level of cortisol which greatly decreases stress.

Improves the Samatvam or balance of the body and mind.

Dos and don’ts

This is to give you tools for safe practice and not intended to replace a qualified practitioner. It is ideal to consult a practitioner to make a program tailor-made for you.

If you are a beginner or restarting after a long gap, start with a 15 to 20 min routine to be done preferably on an empty stomach.

Choose a manageable time and be consistent.

Give a day’s rest in between sessions.

Focus on the form and not the number of poses done.

Get in and out of the pose gently.

Attempt a pose how much ever comfortable. Breathe mindfully focussing more on the exhale in that position.

Always end the routine with belly breathing, keeping exhale twice of inhale. Start with 3 rounds and proceed up to 20 rounds at one time. Once comfortable with this, you can try both nostril pranayama like ujjayi or sheethali and then go to cleansing kriyas like kapalbhati and Nadi shodhana pranayama.

Sample routine

Setubandhasana- 5 rounds hold for 15 sec each time.Follow the same for all the poses 

Pawanmuktasana 

Spinal twist with knees bent and then 1 knee straight

Shalabhasana

Bhujangasana

Goumukhasana

Dandasana

Vrikshaasana

End the routine with Savasana for 1 min and belly breathing 3-5 rounds with exhale twice of inhale.

Hope this blog motivates you to move gently, mindfully, and with control…Want to sign off by wishing all of you a movement-rich month..

Categories
Pain Management Physiotherapy

MANAGING PAIN WITH MOVEMENTS

We are designed to move for survival and our wellbeing. Recent researchers have shown that regular movements act as a natural painkiller by releasing serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and endorphins. So if you or your loved one is in pain and looking for more substantial ways of managing it then read on.

What happens when we move?

FOR THE WHOLE BODY

Better general circulation

Easier lymphatic drainage so fewer chances of swelling of hands and feet.

Better muscular control and coordination.

Improved bone health.

Improved gut mobility so good appetite and easier bowel emptying.

Metabolic rate is improved so easier body weight control.

FOR THE HORMONES

Release of endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and reduced secretion of cortisol ( stress hormone).

Reduction of free radicals and p substance so reduced pain and inflammation.

FOR BREATHING

Better diaphragmatic movement

Relaxed and even breathing

Parasympathetic activation

Lowers stress

Sample movement routine

In bed

Spinal twist– Lie on the back, arms by the side. Bend both the knees, drop them to one side and then another keeping the shoulders relaxed and on the bed. Repeat 3-5 times on each side.

 Belly breathing with arm raise-Lie on the back with the knees bent as much as possible. Breathe in through the nose and allow the belly to come out. Simultaneously interlace the fingers and take the arms upwards as much pain-free. Repeat 3 to 5 times.

 Pelvic Bridge

In-chair sitting

Seated figure of 4-Sit without back support and bend 1 knee such that that ankle is on the opposite knee in a figure of 4. Keep the chest up and hinge forward from the hip to a point where you feel the sensitivity in your butt region or the lower back. Stop at that point and breathe into that position for 3 to 5 breaths. Repeat it 3-5 times.

Seated cross leg stretch-Sit cross-legged as before. Gently pull one knee to the opposite shoulder, keeping both the sit bones in contact with the chair. Repeat as above.

In standing

Hip hinging -Stand with feet shoulder-width parallel. Keep the outer border of your feet parallel, keeping the heels out. Drop the knee caps. You will feel your glutes engaged. Keep the chest up and bend from the hips. Go to a where you feel a mild pull or stretch in the back of your thigh or even the low back. Stop, ease into it, and breathe. Repeat as above.

Hip hinging with knee bent-Repeat the same activity with your knees bent to 5 cms keeping the knee caps facing forward and parallel. Your weight must be on the heels. Repeat as above.

Hope these hacks help you to manage your pain and live pain free… Take care move more and better.