Humans were made to be in motion. One of my patients is in the wine business. He works for a European winemaker and is in charge of North American operations. He toils long hours, primarily at a desk, and as is common in this scenario, he developed low back pain and sciatica. He began regular chiropractic care and was diligent with his prescribed exercises for recovery — and he got better!
One day, when he was in the office for a “tune-up” adjustment, we came to the conclusion that it’s probably healthier to work on the vineyard cultivating grapes and making wine than working at a computer.
Perhaps with this new age of AI, people will transition back to jobs in motion. Or AI will offer the human workforce more flexibility to put movement back into our everyday existence. In any case, I encourage everyone to find enjoyable ways to move throughout the day. If you hate the gym, take a walk through Monticello Park (check out my Instagram post on forest bathing). Bring your pup out for three walks a day instead of two and embrace the upcoming gardening season!
Maybe ChatGPT helped you write an important memo more quickly. Are you going to use the “extra” time to work more? Or perhaps play more? To age gracefully, we do need to be mindful of posture, stability, flexibility, and basic functional movement capability. Remaining upright and walking into our 80s and beyond requires applying some strain to our muscles, bones, and joints. To be honest, strolling through the park may not be enough. My Peloton trainer says, “Pick your hard.” Weight lifting is hard, but not weight lifting may prove to be much harder in the end.
Think about how you move through your day and consider all that your body is capable of. A strength training program is a good idea for most of us, but at the very least, be intentional and aware as you perform the five basic “functional” movements throughout the day.
For example:
If you happen to be cleaning the house or opening a sticky window, you will need to PUSH.
You might PULL the dog as she lunges for a squirrel or bring the garbage buckets to the curb.
You will definitely need to CARRY the groceries and trash bag,
Or perhaps SQUAT down to find the errant piece of carrot that jumped off the cutting board, or pick up the Amazon box on the front step.
We all HINGE and BEND to pick something up off the floor. This one is a bit tricky. I have cautioned those of you with low back issues to be mindful when bending over. The “hinge” refers to bending forward from the hips — not by rounding the lower spine. Many back injuries occur when someone bends over and reaches to grab a small item off the floor. The hinge allows us to bend properly without jeopardizing the lower spine. I do this when I clean horse hooves and unload the dishwasher.
Perform these tasks mindfully, and if you notice any of these movements are impaired, there are lots of talented practitioners in Del Ray who can help you move better!
Enhance your health with gentle, effective chiropractic care, therapeutic bodywork, customized functional fitness, and personalized functional medicine counseling. Dr. Cynthia Durakis has over 20 years of experience helping patients of all ages. Areas of expertise include sports rehabilitation, clinical nutrition, prenatal care, pediatrics, foot analysis/custom orthotics, functional endocrinology and functional and nutritional medicine. Learn more at willowwellnessva.com
