Each month we’ll bring you a note from one of our therapists. It might be something they’re reading, learning or just something they want to share.
This month’s note is from Jordan Wachter, PT, DPT:
What are you training for?
Often, this question comes up in conversations surrounding races or other athletic events. We know our bodies perform better if we’ve trained them to adapt to what we want them to do. But what about the opposite side of that coin? I had a coach in college who would always say, “You’re either getting better or you’re getting worse. You can’t stay the same.”
I’ve realized that doesn’t just apply to athletes. Every day, we train our bodies, whether we are aware of it or not. The more we move, the more we train the body to move that way, and the easier it becomes. The less we move, the harder it becomes for our bodies to move in a way we want them to when the time comes.
For example, when was the last time you got up off the floor? As kids, we fall down all the time, roll in the grass, and play on the ground. It’s easy to get up off the floor as a kid. But often, as we get older, we don’t need to be on the ground for anything. We work at tables and desks. We lay or sit on couches, beds, and chairs. Then, over the years, we find we have a hard time, getting on the ground to clean or do yard work or play with kids.
We didn’t have to get on the ground, so our bodies adapted to not moving in that way, and instead adapted to the things we were doing more consistently. The good news is that our bodies are incredibly resilient, and even if we’ve been sedentary for a long time, that doesn’t mean we can’t make a change and start moving more.
It’s important to remember that there is a time and place for everything. This includes not giving our bodies more than they can handle and allowing for the chance to rest and recover. If we don’t, things like injuries or chronic pain can occur, limiting us for longer than we want.
That’s where Core can help-we can aid in the recovery process to keep your body moving as much as possible in a safe way, putting you on a path toward moving more, not less.
So, what are you training for?