A large portion of our personal training clients come in complaining of pain. Some begin training on their doctor’s advice to address a specific issue, while others will mention the pain in passing, having come to accept it as a part of “getting old,” or “just something I’ll have to live with”. Regardless, people are often shocked at how effective personal training for pain reduction can be. Reducing pain is typically a two-pronged approach – improving both mobility and stability. By retraining the joint to move in larger, more functional patterns and then reinforcing the area with the proper muscles, we can not only alleviate pain but also prevent future injury.
The three most common areas of pain that we see are shoulder pain, neck and back pain, and knee pain.
Neck and Back Pain
Who doesn’t have the occasional lower back pain or neck tightness? We live in a sedentary, hard-working society with too many hours spent hunched over our computers. What’s worse is that neck and back pain can eventually lead to serious long term issues such as permanent postural deviations, bulging discs and sciatica to name a few. Maybe you’ve even already been diagnosed. What are you to do?
This is exactly where high-level personal training will support your long term care. By taking your spine through large ranges of motion in a safe, controlled environment, good personal training can help to counteract the hours of inactivity. When that motion is followed up with core strength training, the result is a neck and back that moves correctly, is pain free, and is strong enough to maintain its proper function.
Shoulder Pain (Rotator Cuff)
People commonly use the term “rotator cuff ” as a catch-all for any shoulder pain; but that is typically only part of the issue. Too often, there are underlying issues that we need to address first in your personal training program. For instance, did you know that weak muscles around your scapula (shoulder blade) can actually lead to a rotator cuff inflammation and even eventual tear? The position of your shoulder blade has a huge effect on the wear and tear your rotator cuff receives. Smart, targeted resistance training can help address rotator cuff injury or shoulder pain in general so that you can strengthen muscles and recover safely.
Knee Pain
Do you have knee pain below your kneecap when you walk up and down stairs? Do you have knee pain on the outside of the joint when you run? Does your knee feel unstable when you play sports? All these, and many more common complaints, are often direct results of a knee joint with muscular imbalances, tendon tightness or overall weakness of the joint. Core Results’ personal training programs help people every day to overcome these very basic knee pain complaints.
