Chiropractic Done Differently #3 – Why Rehab Matters in your Plan of Care

Part 1 – Quality of Movement ~ Quality of Life

Humans have been blessed with cognizance of our ability to move in different patterns, speeds, intensities, and with varying intentions. To ignore your body’s movement potential is to ignore one of the biggest gifts of life.

If we are going to move, why not practice efficient, fluid, and controlled motion? We can prevent many acute injuries and chronic pains by simply increasing quality of our movement. An example;

• Patient describes an ache in their low back while performing daily activities (brushing their teeth, doing laundry, picking up their child).
• A movement analysis shows the patient lacks awareness of how to utilize their hips while bending forward, resulting in increased loading of their low back.
• Through several sessions, their rehab specialist teaches hinging concepts, increases available range of motion at involved joints, and strengthens corresponding muscles.
• Patient leaves treatment with the tools necessary to reduce future stress on their low back, ultimately leading to a decreased reliance on medical providers, pain medications, or other palliative measures.

We love our patients, but your presence in clinic likely means something is not going well. Often, learning to move your body efficiently is THE BEST means of avoiding pain and injury. 

Some words of wisdom from a master of movement, Ido Portal;

• “Your existence is within a body”
• “You are in a body, you must move”
• “You better learn how to move well, because it’s such a big part of your life”
• The Power of Movement – The School of Greatness Podcast with Lewis Howes

Part 2 – What can affect the way you move?

• Lack of exposure/knowledge
• Lack of practice (effort?)
• Strength
• Injury or Chronic Pain
• Lack of motion/mobility
• Lack of coordination (motor control)

 

Example – Progression of Parkinson’s with Exercise Prescription

 

Written by
Derek Knotts, MS ATC, Mercer Island Thomas Howes, Senior Rehab Specialist