Asking questions, Getting answers.
If you have a question for me, please send an e-mail to kineticrx@aol.com
I’ve been an on-off back sufferer for many years. I have tried conventional therapies w/ opioids and they only give me temporary relief. I’ve also been given a series of steroidal injections and at best they give me some relief for about 2 – 3 weeks and then I ‘fall back’ into my old pain pattern. Then I’ve tried several courses of PT but I feel that the various therapists are very ‘cookie cutter’ in their approach, i.e. 3 sets of 10 reps and it’s ‘always the same’. Shouldn’t there be any evaluations and re-evaluations? Shouldn’t I be corrected from time to time, let alone be asked if certain moves help my pain to ‘change’ at all?
-bob c. Asheville, N.Carolina
I totally understand your frustration as I underwent much of the same during my severe back and hip pain period when I was in my 20’s. After failing with many of these modalities, that’s when I realized I had to reconfigure what I was doing, how I was moving and what was healthiest for me. I re-examined many of the PT exercises and realized that I had to ‘customize’ them to fit my body’s needs and to ‘soften’ the approach in how I moved and where I should ‘engage’ my muscles, for strength AND flexibility. This is my first suggestion for you to look at and if you begin to feel positive changes happening, then you know you’re moving in the right direction.
As a trainer, I often feel like all trainers are ‘lumped into one big sum’. And truthfully I have worked with and studied under some trainers and some do in fact just repeat what they ‘see’ and not always ‘study’ what they should. How could KINETICS help to ‘train’ (or RE-train) my Training so that I could be better, more thorough, have a deeper comprehension of the ESSENCE and DETAILS of what I should be teaching, etc?
-Rachel P. Chicago, Ill.
Rachel, I really feel for you and understand completely what you’re going through. In fact, some are like ‘xerox machines’! It’s really important to find out how much ‘training’ they’ve actually HAD and if they are always ‘students’ in their trade — this is key and essential, not only for you but in kindness and fairness to all of your clients! Did their studies include Dynamic Anatomy? When working with a client on the gym’s machines, do those trainers know what adjustments to make for a client if he/she has back issues? Or has had knee problems? When doing the knee/leg extension machine, it’s important to know ‘when to breathe and when/where the action takes place!’ If the trainer just reiterates the same leg work the same way every time, then move on to those who have comprehensive studies on Trainings in therapeutic studies and who know how to individualize movements per person with a thorough understanding of kinesiology and dynamic anatomy as if it were like ‘breathing!’ Good luck!
A group of us are hairdressers at a very busy (and sometimes hectic) NYC Salon. And because of what we do, some of us have had problems with our hands/wrists/fingers while others have larger issues with our backs/hips/legs. HELP!
Irving C. New York City
I understand completely Irving about what you’re going through and it isn’t fun. There are several moves and exercises that all of you can do while you’re on breaks @ The Salon AND @ home. For example, do some circular wrist/hand ROM (range-of-motion) stretches with each hand, slowly > clockwise; rest….then repeat same > counterclockwise. Shake out both hands for at least 20 seconds — feel some tingling in your hands and fingers…this is a good thing! You’re helping to increase your circulation! You can also fill up a small sink with warm water and immerse your fingers/hands/wrists in it. Pretend like you’re playing the harp with your fingers and ‘play’ slowly. Articulation in the joints is very healthy and restorative as is stretching each digit (finger) away from you and holding the stretch for 2 seconds, then stretch that finger towards you; hold for 2 seconds. Continue and work each finger. Then ‘re-play the harp’ for about 10 more seconds. Rinse/dry off and you’re ready to get back to work! I can create an entire Body Consult for all of you right in your own Salon so please contact me if you’d all like to de-stress your bodies!
I had a stroke 8 years ago, seemingly out of nowhere. I’ve had quite of bit of rehabilitation therapy, some of which has been very good but I still am very nervous about my ‘walk’. I feel very UNsteady and IMbalanced, more times than not. Is there anything in what you offer that could help me? And if so, how?
Kate S. Southampton, NY
Greetings Kate! Congratulations on being ACTIVE and PRO-ACTIVE and ‘moving’ forward with rehab therapy. Always a major positive! If there wasn’t emphasis on your walking, that’s where I would start as I have done for many others like yourself. How you stand, move and transfer your weight in each foot and how you land translates — a lot! Let’s say every time you’re stepping forward with your Left foot and you’re landing hard on your heel while shuffling with your back foot (Right) then you’re already making yourself more UNsteady, while impacting heavily on your Left heel. Learning how to know YOUR heel strike>mid-stance>push-off through your feet is of utmost importance and fundamental in your body’s health AND stability.
I’m a professional Violinist and perform with several national and international orchestras so consequently, my schedule is very busy and, at times, very hectic. I often have pain in my L shoulder and neck, sometimes with pain radiating down my arm and sometimes into my fingers. And depending on my stance and how long I have to stand while performing, I often have pain radiating down both legs (not at the same time). My doctors have given me courses of pain killers but as I like to be very astute with my craft at all times, I prefer not to take them as they make my precision less so and sometimes make me feel drowsy as well. What can KINETICS offer me as a program that I can first learn with you and then travel with it that will help correct these painful and uncomfortable issues?
Georgina D. Kansas City, Ak.
You’re a musician who is clearly perceptive and mindful of how she wants to take care of herself and so I commend you! I would have a Movement/Exercise Therapist or Physiatrist analyze your positioning; how you hold your violin and how you play it (re: intensity in your hands/shoulders/jaw) and how you use and move your back AND the seat of the chair you practice on. You could help yourself immensely by using an inflatable rubber disc that are designed for de-compressing discs (and also works like a balance disk as well!) and that could help your hamstrings and nerve pain in your hips and legs. Also take ‘time-outs’ to stand/stretch/walk and do some foot and leg work and stretches for your entire body. Epsoms’ Salts baths are also therapeutic and soothing too. Enjoy returning back to your healthier self, Georgina!
As a Dentist with a very busy practice, I’ve noticed that in the past 5-7 years, my posture has changed dramatically and in the process, I’ve been slumping over my patients in such a way that my breathing has been compromised and my shoulders and back muscles have been inflamed and painful. I’ve tried working out on the machines at my gym but often I feel that the weights feel too aggressive for these painful areas. Suggestions?
Donald K. Sausalito, Ca.
Greetings Donald! Very observant of you and happy that you’re curious in wanting to make healthful changes. Yes, because of your ‘overly-relaxed C-curved position’ of your trunk muscles, your diaphragm can be hindered from working at its easiest and fullest while your posterior back muscles are working ‘overtime’! Your posterior neck muscles are overworking because they’re being overextended. Also because of your trade, you have to ‘hold’ your postures and be very steady which often translates to gripping.(neck/jaw/tail and toes) The body then reacts with inflammation and discomfort and is crying out for uplifting, decompressing and stretching to its fullest (while being prudent, of course!) Taking 15 minutes twice a day work day executing a Full-Body Stretching Rx would be terrific. Keep in mind the various directions you’re taking your back and arms while you’re working and healthfully create an Rx with Extension and Flexion Exercises. Also if you don’t have any shoulder chronicities, you can install a chinning bar (make sure it comes with brackets that go into the door jam and then insert your suspension-chinning bar INTO the brackets) and hang every day, at least 3 times a day, starting with 10 seconds. Yes, it’s that simple. Keep your feet on the ground, knees gently flexed and hang — breathe fully and you’ll be delightfully surprised how beneficial and releasing this simple ‘exercise’ is! Being on the computer alot and adjusting my clients’ positions every day can wreak havoc on my back as well so this is my ‘Go-To-Must-Do-Everyday’ move and my back thanks me for it! Good luck, Donald!
I’m a Pilates and Gyrotonics Teacher and have been in business for 15 years. I truly love my work, especially now that I help many with the Gyro Method and its amazing machine. However I find my back aching a lot along with a radiculating ‘on/off’ pain down my left leg. While I know I’m helping out so many others to achieve their goals, I don’t want to be injuring myself while I’m in the process of helping them. HELP!
Jennifer S. San Rafael, Ca.
Thank you Jennifer for helping others help themselves get healthy! As you can see from my own ‘back experiences’ I really feel for you but as I said to Donald (previous entry), I would use some of my advice that I gave to him. I would also analyze your own moves and intensity within your body as you’re making body corrections on your clients and observe how you’re bending/reaching et al as you’re making adjustments on your respective machines. One Summer I was hired by a few Pilates Studios and it wasn’t surprising to see how many Instructors had similar ‘chronicities’ but with a good analysis of their movements, changes in their weight-shift, reaching, effort-shape qualities in their own bodies made for healthier and more relaxed bodies. And I cannot impress enough about installing a chinning bar. Hang gently and just for a few seconds at first and then build up to about 20 seconds. Breathe/Relax/Smile!!
