Here is a scenario, you have a muscle spasm in your low back and you are leaning towards one side when you walk. What that ultimately does is putting more weight on one knee when you limp.
Now, muscles adapt to new movements fairly quickly. A week of limping may be enough to allow the knee muscles to work differently and puts different pressure onto the knee joint itself. As time goes by long after your back spasm recovers, you may notice that you get the occasional knee soreness and that might be because your joints and muscles are just used to move in the improper way.
Conversely, if you have a history of multiple ankle injuries and the ligaments are weaker, this may affect the way you walk and in turn, affect your pelvic alignment!
Stretching is a great way to get the body moving although there are many different methods to either warm up your body, increase your flexibility or just help stretch an uncomfortable tight muscle!
The most popular methods of stretching include static, dynamic and PNF stretching. Each of these involve different techniques to get a muscle moving for the better.
Static Stretching
Static stretching is great for tight muscles to improve discomfort or pain you are feeling. The great thing about static stretching is that it is simple and effective and can be done even in front of your desk at work! A simple stretch at the desk is our go to which is the common neck stretch which is done by pulling your head towards one side of the body and holding it!
Dynamic Stretching
Dynamic stretching is a fantastic way to get limbered up for a run, a workout or even for a game of soccer. Unlike static stretching which can hinder performance in sporting events, dynamic stretching allows for an increase in blood flow and heart rate and usually involves moving muscles needed for the activity at hand. A simple dynamic stretch before a run can be leg swings which involves 10 or more repetitions each side yo get the benefits!
PNF Stretching
PNF stretching also known as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, involves a muscle to be stretched and then forced into a push before further stretching the muscle. PNF stretching has great benefits when it comes to improving flexibility. The goal of this stretch is to enhance mobility but also decrease chances of muscles seizing up and becoming weak!
How Does Stretching Help?
Apart from the above variations of stretching the benefits out way the risks. Unlike heavy exercises and strenuous activities, stretching requires minimal energy expenditure and can give immense relief when put into a daily routine.
Will Stretching Improve Hip & Back Pain?
This is all dependant on whether you have hip instability. Other factors of back pain stem further than just muscle pain. Our body also has issues both with joints, ligaments and tendons and this can be true not just for low back pain but for neck, Shoulder and other joint pains!
