Knots in your back are actually muscles that are in a type of contraction. Why did this happen? Because something was making your muscle unhappy. It’s complaining. That may sound way too simple but bodies are logical. Things happen for reasons. One of the most common reasons for muscle knots or spasms is using your […]
When back muscles are stretched a bit more than they like to be, they get crabby. They can get really crabby. Why? They are trying to tell you something. They are saying, “Help! I’m not happy! You are straining me! Stop it!” But what do we often do? > Take a couple of pills to […]
If you have back pain, you’ve probably heard that you should do sit-ups. While strong abdominal (stomach) muscles are good, sit-ups can be not so good. Here’s why: Your abdomen is basically the “front of your back.” Some of the muscles that attach to your spine are actually accessible through your soft abdomen by a […]
There are lots of types of exercise and movement strengthening programs, and most of them are done in upright positions. Here are some of the reasons I prefer a program that can be done while you lie on your back in bed. 1. Almost everyone can lie on their back in relative comfort. 2. Gravity […]
Osteoporosis is not something we want to have. What we really want are strong, healthy bones. So, I’m going to tell you about the most common cause of osteoporosis. It’s really common to see people with their heads in front of their bodies. Sometimes their heads are really far ahead of their bodies. How about bent upper bodies? […]
Here’s an easy, simple strengthening strategy to get long, strong torso muscles. We often fall into the habit of having a weak, collapsed forward posture. This simple strengthening tip will help you get tall, straight and strong. You can do this sitting and do this on your back in bed or on the floor. Lift your arms over […]
A physical therapist told me that the best way to strengthen abdominal muscles was just to “suck in your stomach and hold it,” several times. And that does work, but when we want strong and flat abdominal muscles, we often think of sit-ups. Here are a few reasons why sit-ups may not be the exercise-of-choice […]
If I were to ask you what causes the pain between your shoulder blades, what would you say? Would you tell me the cause was stress? Overwork? Old age? Arthritis? Or coming from your nerves or bones? Would you be surprised if I told you that the cause was most likely…in most cases…muscles? But not […]
Is it actually possible that exercise can help get rid of your migraine headaches? Yes, in many ways. Often the muscles on the tops of your shoulders, the front and the back of your neck, and your jaw get tight. They get tight because we are out of balance, muscularly. We can often blame this on […]
Does your back hurt now more than it used to? Do you have back pain between your shoulder blades? Is the pain more on your dominant side? Or, is it more lower back pain and/or your neck? There are many possible causes for back pain and muscles are the usual culprit! Honest! Muscles! That’s good news, because […]
After you have been in your exercise or movement program for a while, knowing how many repetitions of an exercise or movement you should do will become second nature to you. You will feel good when your muscles are moving in the correct ways. You will do the movements often, because it feels good. You will be able to […]
If your muscles get out of balance – some too tense or tight, and others too loose or flacid – it is easy to have muscle strain. Here is an example. You may recognize this pain that lots of us experience: The one on your back, between your spine and your shoulder blade. If you are right-handed, […]
There is a reason for your upper back pain. Most of the time we hold our shoulders in a forward position. Our head and shoulders are in front of our body during virtually all of our activities. As a result, the muscles in our back get overstretched. Then those muscles hurt and complain. They don’t like being overstretched. Strengthening […]
Do you have neck pain? There are many causes for neck pain, but here is a very common cause and a simple strengthening solution. Often our heads get “stuck” in a forward position. This happens because of the way we hold our head for long periods. The muscles both in front and in back of our necks can […]
All day long we are very often stuck in one position. Our shoulders get tired and ache. If we are a new mom, the position we are stuck in might be holding our baby. If we work at a desk, it could be leaning over the desk. If we are a mechanic or line worker or cook, it is […]