It’s that time of year again when we get to watch some very skilled professionals drag celebrity amateurs around a dance floor on Strictly. Some of you may be fans, some may be trying to find a box set to watch instead, but either way, you may be wondering if you could get up and cut a rug like that!
I’d like to dance but …
Do you find that you can’t quite manage the dance moves you used to do when younger? This is quite often because, as you get older, you lose flexibility in joints, and mobility in muscles. A combination of age and decreasing activity levels (work and children are the usual culprits) lead to you feeling stiff and less mobile. Sometimes strength can depart as well.
But the good news is, we can help get you back on the dance floor
Firstly, we need to identify where and how you are most restricted, and what is the cause. A short examination can help to find the areas that are most problematic. The usual suspects are hips, lower back, neck or shoulders.
But quite often, the area that feels stiff is not the area that needs help. Neck stiffness can come from the upper back, and hips can be affected by knee problems. Finding the cause is what we concentrate on as osteopaths, not just looking at the bit that hurts!
Finding the right formula
Next, we need to find an approach that works for you. A tailor-made approach is what we are all about – no-one is exactly the same as someone else, so we treat YOU and not just your symptoms. It may be that you need some help mobilising joints, or that muscle tightness is the main problem. Some people have an unresolved injury that may have been causing recurrent symptoms for many years. Whichever cause we find, we will find the techniques and exercises best suited to you.
But it won’t stop with just treatment. We can help to find the lifestyle changes and long-term adaptations that can help to prevent you losing flexibility in the future. Whether it’s a set of exercises for every day, a new class at the gym, or just the right position for your office chair, we will aim to find those everyday things that contribute to you feeling better.
If you’re asking, I’m dancing!
So, if you thought your dancing days are behind you, why not give us a call and see if we can help bring your tap shoes out of the cupboard? While we may not get you to lift the Strictly trophy, we might just help you to manage your office Christmas party!
