Do you feel that you aren’t moving as easily as you used to?
It is a natural consequence of aging that our bodies begin to lose flexibility, muscle tone and strength and often this results in a higher risk of injury (and increased recovery time) and more general aches and pains. This decline isn’t inevitable though!
“The hinges of a well-used door never rust”
This is a saying in Chinese Medicine and it is the case that the stiffness, pain and injury we develop is analogous to a hinge slowly rusting on a door that is no longer used.
Once you become used to living with the pain then you may begin to move in a restricted way and even create new patterns of tension and altered gait as a result.
Then your joints (hinges) can only continue their ‘rusting’ and the condition can spread to affect the soft tissue around the affected joint as well as the integrity of neighbouring joints.
The clever ancient Chinese…
The Chinese long ago devised systems of exercise that can greatly benefit joints at almost all stages of ‘rusting’. Performing these specific regular exercises are essential to prevent atrophy and increase the strength of the supporting soft tissues
Part of a treatment would include self-care advice and training which would allow you to carry on the effects of a session at home. Daily self massage of the joint (where possible, a knee for example) can also help and is simple to perform once instructed.
How can Thrive help you to de-rust?
Both Tui Na and acupuncture are very precise and targeted therapies and here at Thrive we use them both in helping to first of all relieve pain from an arthritic joint, and then helping you to regain flexibility, strength and ease of movement.