The 5 Top Things You Can Do To Reduce Stiffness
I wanted to answer one of the most common question I get asked
about being stiff. We hear this all the time and not just at the clinic.
“Gavin, what advice have you got for someone who isn’t necessarily
in a lot of pain, but who is just really stiff in the morning and feels stiff
through the day? I feel it slows me down and can’t do things the way I’d like
to.
I
have plenty of tips and advice to help reduce stiffness.
But
first I want to clear up
‘why’ we feel stiff
in
the first place.
A
lot of people we see think that stiffness is something we feel as we get older
– and while there’s some truth in that, stiffness isn’t always directly related
to how old you are.
Yes,
as you get older your joints and muscles might get stiff if you don’t exercise
regularly. And it’s true that your joints become less flexible as the
lubricating fluid inside them decreases, and the cartilage becomes thinner as
you age… But there’s some other points to factor in too.
Not drinking enough
fluids
and dehydration can also lead to stiff muscles. Muscles are active tissues,
which means they’re the kind of tissue that requires the most water in the
body.
Inactivity is another culprit
–
leaving your muscles in one place for a prolonged period (sleep, sitting in a
chair, driving for hours etc.) can cause them to stiffen.
Another cause can be related to
stress
– when we’re in a state of stress, our bodies tighten up as
preparation for a “fight or flight” situation. Prolonged stress can lead to you
maintaining a tight posture, resulting in strain on the muscles.
So
what can you do to reduce the side-effects of stiffness? Here’s five quick and
easy tips to add to your daily routine that will help you find a life with less
stiffness no matter what age you are.
1. Stretch
–
daily. Ten minutes on a morning when you first wake up, and ten minutes on a
night before bed. Doing gentle stretches just before bed can help you get a
much better night’s sleep as well. No equipment needed, just you and the
comfort of your own home.
2. Walk
– It’s
time to start making a habit of a regular walk in your daily routine. Start off
going for 10 minutes and gradually build up your time and even your pace. Your
heart will thank you for it too.
3. Avoid long periods of sitting
– Sitting
just doesn’t allow muscle to move in the way they are supposed to, causing
tightness. We are not designed to sit for long periods. You’re better off
laying stretched out on the sofa than you are sitting in a chair for long
periods of time. Standing up and stretching every 30 minutes can help. Check out this
video
about the one stretch you need to do if you sit long periods.
4. Take a warm bath
–
with bath salts. The heat and combination of bath salt or will ease your aching
muscles almost immediately and will calm your mind. The perfect way to end your
day and unwind before getting a good night’s sleep.
5. Drink plenty of water
-Seventy
percent of your muscles are water. So it makes sense that you need to drink
plenty of water to support your body and keep it hydrated. My tip – Drink
plenty of water through the day. This also helps the body get rid of any build-up
of toxins
It’s
sad but a lot of people accept stiffness in their life as though it’s normal
and nothing can be done about it. Stiffness in your joints such as your neck,
shoulders, back and knees is a sign that something needs to be done
by
you.
So
there you have it, five things you can very easily put into action in your day
as soon as today, to reduce stiffness and prevent it from making daily
activities difficult to do.
Don’t
accept stiffness as part of life, if you do and you don’t do anything about it,
it’s likely to worsen and affect your ability to move freely. Time to change
your habits
P.S.
If
you’re experiencing stiffness in your back which restricts your ability to move
without pain, click here to download my free back pain tips guide which
includes actionable tips I give to my patients at
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