Have you ever wondered why you get the aches and pains you do often without an obvious cause? Have you ever stopped to consider if the thing you're doing to try and alleviate the pain could in fact be making it worse? This book will cover the most common issues that we face in modern life and will highlight the author's best tried and tested clinical methods to overcome these challenges.
There are four guiding principles to the If It Hurts DON'T Stretch It concept that explain how best to understand and manage the most common aches and pains:
1. Pain is just the symptom
2. If it hurts don't stretch it
3. If something is overstretched, then something else is too short
4. Stretching feels nice but make sure you're stretching the muscle that needs it
The book is broken down into chapters covering specific areas of the body (Neck and Upper Back, Shoulders, Elbows, Forearms and Wrists, Hips and Lower Back, Knees and finally Ankles, Heels and Feet). Each chapter covers the most common challenges faced in each of these areas, how these challenges relate to the concept and advice on the correct stretches and strengthening to do. All too often there is significant misinformation around managing and improving discomfort by incorrectly advising individuals to simply stretch the area that hurts. Each chapter therefore contains an essential 'what not to do' section.
Understanding why you have pain and knowing that there is something you can do about it is liberating. Acknowledging and understanding why following the common advice hasn't worked for you before is an essential part of reframing how you treat your pain. Through the guiding principles you can take back control of your body by alleviating your pain and understanding what the pain itself is trying to highlight. There is also the opportunity to follow the practical advice in the 'what to do' section and try out the handy tips of each chapter. In doing so you'll soon be reaping the rewards of a pain free life.
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