This is a question we as physiotherapists get asked all the time and unfortunately, there is no easy answer that applies to everyone for every situation.
As humans, we are always looking for the “why.” We strive to understand how our pain happened, so presumably, we can avoid the trigger in the future. Sometimes there is a straightforward answer to this question. For example, you may have rolled your ankle or lifted something funny and tweaked your back. But the majority of the time, there is unfortunately no clear cut, straightforward answer.
Injury/pain can build up slowly over time from overloading a tissue, but even more commonly – and the part people often forget about – from underloading a tissue. Most structures in our body need to be loaded (aka: used regularly) to stay strong and healthy. Muscle, bone, cartilage, and even ligaments all respond this way. Too often we hear stories of people avoiding movement or activity in an attempt to avoid pain/injury. There are certain instances where this may be necessary, for a short period of time, to allow for tissue healing (your physio can guide you in this). But in the majority of cases, spending too much time in a sustained position and not moving your body in different ways can often be the root cause or “why” that you’re looking for.
Not sure where to start? Pick an activity that you enjoy and also creates movement – this is always a solid place to begin. Want more guidance? Visit a STRIDE physical therapist or exercise therapist to guide you through exercises that are particularly useful for you and your health.
Have a physio related question for us? Send it to info@hityourstride.ca and we may use in a future blog post on our website or on our social media platforms.