Gary Ward Training, Health and Lifestyle

A functional fix?

Do you have pain? Can you do all that you want to do without experiencing pain. If not then are you functional?

In the past few weeks, I have come across clients with hamstring problems, knee problems, shoulder problems and even RSI problems in their wrist and the blockage in the body was the big toe joint - let's call it BTJ...

Because of the immobility in three planes of this joint, ankle, knee, hip and spine have all been affected and the pain has revealed itself at a site on the body distal to the blockage. Years of physio and treatments have been changed in one session by my releasing big toe. As I said earlier, it fascinates me.

My understanding of the body leads me to want to rewrite the anatomy books... I was taught incorrectly and so are thousands of other trainers. The typical fitness industry protocol actually trains dysfunction into the body - but that's cool because I get it to iron it out. I haven't had one client who hasn't noticed an immediate improvement when working with me for only one session. It's powerful stuff.

Michael Owen cost Newcastle United £11million pounds through his injury at the World Cup last summer, and if he had been taught to increase the range available in his glutes and at his ankle to allow his knee to travel further, he may not have had to take a year off - but there we have a world class athlete who was physically unable to withstand his own body weight. What hope have the rest of us got?

My aim is to help you increase joint mobility in three planes of motion, whilst strengthening your muscles at end ranges of motion that are applicable to your sport/daily activities so you may remain active for longer, or simply mobile for longer. The carry over to your health, in particular mind, body and spirit triangulate, is astounding. Pain free - mobile - efficient - motivated - the list goes on...

Who owns your back pain?

It's off the back of another discussion again... You guys must wonder if i ever talk about anything ordinary or not??

I have been doing talks for Astra Zeneca over the past year, talking to Doctors and Practice Nurses in the main - and as you might imagine I offer a pretty diferent slant on subjects to the Doctor's and consultants who normally present to them.  I just heard that I'm a reserve for a talk on back pain - can you believe it? I'm going to materialise myself the opportunity by focusing the joy of being invited to do it... in fact it's already in the bag! Those of you who have seen 'the Secret' will have an idea of what i'm rambling on about there. In a nutshell, if we are all energy, then we have a certain amount of control over everything that is energy... including a Reps decision to ask me to fill in for a physio who mysteriously falls ill... or something else harmless!

What am i doing? I'm here to talk back pain and tell you why I should be talking and not the physio!

So who does own your back pain? Your doctor? Your physio? The government? Me? ... or you? Certainly every one of those people can have an impact on your bad back. You can recieve treatment, medication, training, stretches, harnesses and corsets, lifestyle coaching and good nutrition. But do any of those actually work if you , yourself, don't have the desire and knowledge to take hold of that pain and rid yourself of it ... for life?

Let's look at a couple of scenarios. How many of you back pain sufferers have been to the doctor, seen a specialist, had an operation and still find that your back hurts (maybe less, maybe more than it did pre-op?). How many of you have seen a chiropractor, physio or osteopath, only to find that the same old problem keeps recurring every 3 months? How many of you have become reliant on a corset or a weight lifting belt and can't function without it?

I'm guessing hundreds, nay, thousands of people can relate to those scenarios. I only wish they were all reading my blog!!! So, what's going wrong? I'll tell you... none of the above scenarios have actually gotten to the root cause of their pain. An operation eliminates visible obstructions, say, shaving a disc but cannot correct the imbalance in the body structure; consequently, over time, the imbalance causes distress again. A weights belt or corset simply allows you to carry on regardless in your job or with your training without solving the real issue. Many physios, osteos and chiros suffer the problem that people think they are a quick fix too... but they aren't. Most succumb to the crack this crack that type approach, which gives you an instant lift but problems will often reoccur if the root cause is not discovered by the therapist. N.B. I have had some excellent physio and osteopathy in my time - it's really up to you to check the credentials of your therapist and possibly go on recommendation - The absolute answer to my personal problems was to recieve excellent osteopathy (Richard Laycock in Newark) and through discovery of the root cause I was able to correct my imbalances and cure my back pain. But you see, I did it myself! Obviously I have more knowledge in this area than most, but a good therapist, coach, trainer (etc) will teach you what you need to know and help you understand your recovery requirements raher than leave you to your own devices outside of your paying sessions.

Is back pain always physical? Does your back hurt? Did you have an accident to cause it? If not, why does it hurt?

Is it your job? Do you sit in a car all day? Do you have significant (or subtle)postural imbalances? How's your digestion? What about your stress levels? Do you get sufficient sleep? Are you allergic to gluten? Do you have good levels of hydration? What about your mental attitude to back pain?

All of the above can be responsible for your pain. Do you see now how an operation or a corset will not help you find a solution to your back pain. Now you know this, does it make you want to take responsibility for your problems. I hope so...  Now, I wonder if I'll get that talk?