Where does it hurt?
Rack up enough gym time and you’re gonna get injured.
Sure as the sun’ll come up.
And when that injury happens someone (Doc, Trainer, Mom) is gonna ask, ‘where does it hurt?’. Surely the cure for what ails you lies right there beneath the pain.
Like X marks the spot.
If only our bodies were that direct.
A joint above the hurt, a joint below the hurt
If you receive a traumatic blow, then yes: the pain is coming from the problematic area. X indeed, marks the spot on a bruise or break.
But if you have that annoying stiffness, soreness or pain that comes out of nowhere; the kind we associate with getting old or putting a ton of miles on our bods, chances are X will not mark the spot. The pain is referring out.
So where is it coming from?
A joint above the pain.
Or a joint below the pain.
Usually.
Examples: if you have:
- Knee pain? Look at your hips and ankles.
- Shoulder pain? Look at your neck, elbows and eyes.
I could go on, but I think you’re picking up what I’m putting down. Pain in one area is often caused by disfunction one step up or down the kinetic chain.
If you receive a traumatic blow, then yes: the pain is coming from the problematic area. X indeed, marks the spot on a bruise or break.
But if you have that annoying stiffness, soreness or pain that comes out of nowhere; the kind we associate with getting old or putting a ton of miles on our bods, chances are X will not mark the spot. The pain is referring out.
A joint above the pain.
Or a joint below the pain.
Usually.
Examples: if you have:
- Knee pain? Look at your hips and ankles.
- Shoulder pain? Look at your neck, elbows and eyes.
I could go on, but I think you’re picking up what I’m putting down. Pain in one area is often caused by disfunction one step up or down the kinetic chain.
What next?
Now we know where to look. Next question: what to do with that info?
I’d recommend 4 things for hurt muscles:
Assess mobility: There isn’t any pain here, but are you able to move properly? If your knee hurts and your ankle doesn’t move well then we’re on to something.
Mobilize the joint: Once you’ve found the compromised joint you’ve got to move it. Jammed joints make you weaker and less flexible (arthrokinetic reflex).
Move with intent to open your joints and you’ll find strength and flexibility improve while pain dissipates.
Test the muscles in the area: Are they functioning properly? Sometimes muscles “turn off” and as a result the surrounding musculature has to work harder for you to move. This is akin to a coworker going on vacation and you having to work more. In time you’re going to get annoyed and break down, figuratively speaking.
Turn on the lazy muscles: this is so easy it shouldn’t work, but when you turn those lazy muscles back on mobility and strength skyrocket while pain disappears. How do we turn them on? Easy. Move them.
These quick, easy fixes will improve your pain and movement at the speed of the nervous system (800+ mph), but you’ve got to know which joints to assess, how to assess them, and then what to do. Sounds like a job for youtube.
Or a really good Trainer (who can send you a youtube clip). I know a few.