That’s just me….

• August 12, 2014

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I like to keep up with the latest and greatest information regarding fitness, nutrition and overall health. In fact, last night, I spent about an hour studying the shoulder complex trying to fully understand this issue I have with my growing collarbone, tilted atlas and pulled/torn scalenes.  But that’s just me.

I imagine that most of you are not that interested in the complexities of musculo-skeletal issues, and even if you are somewhat interested, you don’t have the time or desire to look into it that deeply.  Or, like many people, you just want someone to FIX IT.  Whatever the problem really is, can’t someone just fix it?  Is there a pill, a cream or something that will make the problem go away?

I wish.

Yesterday I saw my orthopedist; and at one point, he had this look on his face like he wished he could tell me something more positive sounding other than, “I’m not sure which came first, the tilted atlas, etc or the muscle pull/tear, but either way it’s a dynamic, chronic problem that will have to be dealt with for the rest of your life”.

Where have I heard that before?  Pretty much at every doctor’s visit.  But you know what?  That’s okay.  Human bodies are simply amazing in what they do.  And even when some things aren’t working like they should be, hundreds of other functions are still purring along despite our ignorance of them.

I know from many years of experience, that the more consistently I work out and eat well, the better I feel no matter what weird thing my muscles, joints and bones have decided to do.  In fact, the doctor reiterated what I’ve heard, and said, before.  In order to reduce the wear and tear on my hyper-mobile joints, I need to continually lift heavy weights with fewer reps to help build muscle surrounding those joints. (I tell this to every person who tells me they can’t exercise because they have arthritis; which, by the way, most of us have to some degree by the time we’re middle-aged.)

Strength training is a huge key to aging better and without pain as it strengthens both our muscles and our bones.  It aids in proper posture, which in turn reduces neck, shoulder and back pain. It keeps us moving well, which helps our joints stay lubricated. And, as my aged 60-something client said yesterday, “I’m so much stronger now from working out that I don’t even mind going up and down the stairs any more!”.

(In case you’re interested, here’s the information I was reading about the shoulder complex; but don’t worry, if you don’t feel like reading it.  I’m STILL studying it this morning! http://www.mccc.edu/~behrensb/documents/Shouldbjb_000.pdf)