Most of the injuries that I see in my chiropractic office in Springfield, VA are repetitive strain injuries. These injuries occur from the patient losing range of motion in a particular joint thus putting additional stress on another joint or area of the body. This additional stress eventually causes the patient to develop a repetitive strain injury and then pain. If the pain persists long enough and does not go away this is when the patient gives my office a call. A great example of this is the typical office worker. These patients sit at a computer for 6-8 hours per day and then have another 30 minutes to a hour (if they are lucky in the Washington, DC area) commute, each way. What happens from all of the sitting is they lose the normal function and range of motion of their hips. Their hips also become weak and tight putting additional stress and strain on the lower back region. Once their hips stop functioning like they are suppose to their lower back has to compensate and do the job of the hips. The muscles and joints in the lower back were not designed to do this so eventually over time the office worker develops lower back pain.
Why I am telling you all of this? Because I can help alleviate your lower back pain but ultimately you need to restore the hip function and increase your gluteal strength to prevent this injury from occurring. In my office I show patients how to increase their hip range of motion and start on them a rehabilitative program to develop and improve their hip strength but there is a limit to how much I can help you. You need to develop a program or system to increase your range of motion, strength, coordination, flexibility and endurance. Thankfully somone has already developed a system for you, it’s called CrossFit.
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years you have probably heard of CrossFit. For those that do not know what CrossFit is, it is a strength and conditioning fitness methodology that promotes broad and general overall physical fitness. CrossFit combines weightlifting, sprinting, and gymnastics. CrossFit focuses on improving your efficiency in ten fitness domains: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.
What is a CrossFit workout like?
At a local CrossFit affiliate gym like CrossFit Lorton, you will be show up for a class at a specific time to do the “Workout Of The Day” or WOD for short. The workout changes daily so your muscles are constantly being challenged and it also keeps you motivated with different workouts. CrossFit workouts incorporate running, rowing, jumping rope, pulls, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, gymnastic rings, kettlebells and many body weight exercises. CrossFit WOD’s include a warm-up, a skill development segment, and a high-intensity workout that lasts around ten to thirty minutes.
Why you need to do CrossFit?
CrossFit utilizes functional training which is the best way to workout and improve body mechanics. The classic gym workouts that most people do utilize body building exercises, i.e. dumbell curls. Dumbell curls only focus on training one particular muscle whereas a body weight squat like you would do at CrossFit trains several muscles at once. Body building exercises like most people do are not functional at all unless you are curling a weight, whereas a body weight squat will allow you squat down and play with your daughter or son. If you ever look at young kids, they are constantly squat down as they are playing. This is the way the body was designed to move but as they get other and they sit more and more they loose the flexibility, strength and coordination to get into a squat position. In my office one test that I love and have most of patients do is a simple body weight squat. I would say 80-90% of my patients cannot do a simple body weight squat including the athletes I treat. This a fundamental movement that the everybody should be able to do. CrossFit utilizes functional exercises to train your body so that you can perform a fundamental movement such as body weight squat. CrossFit will make you stronger, more effecient, flexibile, help you lose weight and improve your lean muscle mass. It is a very intense type of exercise but it is completely scalable so anyone can do the exercise. What it comes down to just like anything in life, you get out what you put in. CrossFit will challenge you physically and mentally and make you stronger, allowing you to do the things that you love to do in life, pain-free.
If you find yourself or someone you know currently in the situation I described give us a call today at (703) 912-7822 or visit us at http://www.NovaChiroWellness.com . To learn more about CrossFit go to www.CrossFit.com and for a local CrossFit gym go to www.CrossFitLorton.com .
