I am a SOCCER MOM. I love being a SOCCER MOM. I love watching my daughter play in all kinds of sports. And I really like watching her and her Socca Sistas play Soccer. (I also love coaching her Basketball Team but the joys of that I will save for another post). Yes, I know we’re in the middle of dead, cold bitter South Dakota Winter and you’re wondering how these kids are going to play soccer this weekend when we have freshly-fallen, beautiful (and COLD!!) snow outside as I write this. But we are blessed to live here in Sioux Falls where there are great venues for kids to play indoor soccer.
We have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time because it is her soccer club’s annual Winter Games. She and her teammates have been practicing for this for several months. AND, because of the bitter cold this week, the kids haven’t been outside for recess at school all week. OH THEIR POOR TEACHERS!!!! So its time for them to burn off some energy!
But as much as I love watching soccer, I hate the sitting. Or I should be more specific- I hate the sitting on BLEACHERS! Sitting can wreak havoc on your back, especially if you have suffered from back pain or bulging discs as I have. So, I tend to not sit. Or if I do, I don’t sit for very long periods of time. I tend to stand. Or Walk. Or do anything I can do to keep moving because despite being a PHYSICAL THERAPIST who tries very hard to practice what I preach, if I’m not attentive to my OWN sitting posture, I pay for it. I pay for it big time- usually as a sharp, hot, stabbing pain in my buttock.
Our bodies were not meant to sit for long periods of time. We were designed to move. When we sit, there is far more pressure exerted on our intervertebral discs and associated soft tissue structures than when we walk or stand.
And even with good sitting posture, sitting over a period of time can cause increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and the soft tissues surrounding the spine. And if left unattended to, the disc can begin to bulge, creating pressure on associated structures which often presents as pain in the low back, hip, buttock or down the entire leg. Mine tends to refer to my buttock.
So, the Physical Therapist in me knows I need to be attentive to my posture and I need to change positions frequently. I need to get up and move. Any you’ll probably see me performing some back bends too.
Being attentive to good posture means sitting with the natural curves of your low back and neck supported and in good alignment. It means sitting TALL, not SLOUCHING! Improving your posture alone can be the first step in getting relief of back and neck pain.
There is help for bulging and herniated discs. Bulging and Herniated Discs does not mean you are destined to a lifelong battle with low back pain. In fact, these types of conditions respond very favorably to joint mobilization, manual therapy and exercises prescribed by a Physical Therapist Credentialed in the McKenzie Method. What I love about the McKenzie Method is that it empowers patients to help themselves without medications, injections or surgery. And patients usually have significant relief within a few visits.
If you get pain need help with your back, buttock, and/or leg pain… give me a call. Or download my Free E-Book on Tips you can Implement to Ease Your Back Pain.
I’m going to sign off for now. I’m going to go watch some great youth soccer.
My Best,
Britt