Exercise = Freedom
The word ‘exercise’ somehow has reached the status of a trigger word we collectively roll our eyes upon hearing as the solution to our problems. It’s a tragedy! This word should be synonymous with empowerment and freedom! Exercise is the solution to 99% of pain relief. What you will never fully understand unless you go through it is the liberating knowledge that pain is under your control once you have conquered it with exercise. Your body is built to move and interact with the world. Pain can be paralyzing and frequently cause the fearful reduction of movement. Uncountable societal and family factors play into how pain is interpreted and expressed. But the lowest hanging fruit (exercise) is also the most successful.
Without question, other things can be completed alongside exercise: chiropractic manipulations, dry needling, massage, cupping, even surgery! But none of these things will solve your problem by itself. They are universally paired alongside intelligent and purposeful exercise. Where we often get lost is when we start with those things instead of exercise. The number of issues that can be solved with exercise alone is staggering. Yes, surgery is sometimes required. But what happens after surgery? What is recommended before? DId the physician write you a script to watch TV for 12 hours a day? The majority of the time they recommend actual physical therapy; the other they advise slow return to activity. In both scenarios you’re going back to activity!
Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. If you use surgery or any quick fix by itself you have effectively eaten for a day. If you learn what caused your pain, how to fix it, and how to prevent it from coming back you now have the tools to eat for a lifetime!
Partnering with a professional who understands this relationship between your physical AND mental health is absolutely critical. Truthfully they can be a Physical Therapist, Personal Trainer, Chiropractor, Surgeon, Masseuse, or anyone in the healthcare profession.
