Summertime is all about adventure – with longer days, outdoor exploring, travel, and time with friends and family. But if you’re dealing with pain or injury, even the most exciting of plans can become frustrating or uncomfortable. Whether it’s lower back pain after gardening, sore knees during a hike, or a stiff neck after camping, your body might need some extra support to help keep up with this season.
That’s where osteopathic treatment comes in!
What is Osteopathic Treatment?
Osteopathic treatment is a hands-on therapy that takes a holistic approach by looking at the entire body as a unit rather than its individual parts. It focuses on how the body’s structure and systems work together, especially the muscles, joints, nerves and circulatory system. Osteopathy helps to restore balance to the body, relieving pain at its source and allowing the body to regulate and heal itself.
Why Summer Activities Can Trigger Pain
Summer activities are fun, but they often challenge our bodies in new ways:
- Longer walks or hikes can cause foot, knee or hip pain
- Sleeping on unfamiliar beds while traveling or camping can cause neck and back pain
- Playing sports or swimming can lead to neck and shoulder tension, or reveal imbalances and overuse injuries
- Gardening or outdoor housework can lead to back or shoulder strains
- Long car rides or flights can lead to hip pain
If your body isn’t properly aligned or in balance, these activities can lead to soreness or injury.
Summer Tips From an Osteopathic Practitioner
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Stay hydrated! This will help to keep the muscles and surrounding tissues moving well, keeping joints lubricated and you flexible
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Take stretch breaks. When on a long road trip or flight, it’s important to take breaks to stretch out your hips and spine. Your Osteopathic practitioner can give you specific stretches for your body.
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Focus on posture. When trying new summer activities, it’s normal for us to lose our proper posture. Remember to keep shoulders relaxed away from the ears, and standing up tall.
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Remember to breathe! When focusing on new activities, sometimes we forget to breathe. Taking deep breaths not only relaxes the muscles, it brings more oxygen to your tissues, leading to better circulation, and calms down the nervous system
How Osteopathic Treatment Helps You Stay Moving and Pain-free
- Restores alignment and balance – Being misaligned in the hips, spine or other joints can create problems when you’re being active. Osteopathy uses gentle techniques to restore proper alignment, leading to proper posture and improved coordination of the body- which is key to preventing pain or injury during movement
- Reduces inflammation and tension – Osteopathic treatment releases tight muscles, helping to improve blood flow to an inflamed or injured area. This leads to faster recovery, less pain, and fewer constraints on your summer activities
- Improves flexibility and mobility – By improving your joint range of motion, Osteopathy makes it easier to enjoy your summer from- from bike rides, to hikes, to kayaking.
- Supports healing naturally – Osteopathy removes dysfunctions which are preventing your body from regulating itself. For those looking for a natural solution, without invasive treatments or relying on pain medications, Osteopathy is a great alternative, as it focuses on your body’s innate healing abilities.
- Customized treatment plan for your body and lifestyle – Whether you’re hiking the West Coast trail, chasing kids at the beach, or just trying to enjoy all that summer has to offer, Osteopathic care is tailored to your unique body and goals. It addresses not only your pain, but the root cause of it, so you can stay proactive and enjoy all your fun.
When Should You See an Osteopathic Practitioner?
Some key signs you would benefit from osteopathic treatment:
- pain that lingers for more than a few days
- discomfort with specific movements (like bending or twisting)
- trouble sleeping due to your pain
- preventative treatment to keep you moving well
Don’t Let Pain Sidetrack Your Summer Plans
Summer is short- don’t let pain prevent you from enjoying all it has to offer. Osteopathic treatment is a safe, effective, and holistic way to stay active, flexible, and pain free throughout the season.
If you’re experiencing pain or just wanting to get ahead of any potential problems, this is the perfect time to see an Osteopathic practitioner.
Disclaimer: The content provided on this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. While we strive to present accurate and up-to-date information, the field of naturopathic medicine is continually evolving, and individual health circumstances vary. Therefore, the information herein may not apply to your specific health situation.
Please be aware that engaging with this blog does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. For personalized medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment plans, we recommend scheduling a consultation with a qualified naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider.
In the event of a medical emergency, contact emergency services immediately.