Change the Way You Think About Movement

What comes to mind when you hear the word “movement”?

Is it some form of exercise or sport? Walking or running?

If it’s a person, is it you or someone else?

What feelings are associated with it? Does your mind race to something you love, something you live for, something that brings a source of enjoyment?

In your mind, does something as simple as getting up out of bed count?

Sitting, standing, bending, reaching, picking something up from the floor?

How do we look at movement?

One simple definition of movement, in this context, is the way in which our bodies navigate through physical space.

In the realm of physical health we advocate for good technique while lifting weights, when playing a certain sport, or proper positioning when doing yoga or Pilates, etc.  

While these things are important, it’s just as important to recognize that the way we move outside of these activities has a significant (and long lasting) impact on our overall health and well-being. 

For example, squatting and deadlifting (hinging) are the exact same movement patterns as getting up from a chair and bending forward to pick something up from the floor. 

This isn’t to say that getting up from a chair or bending forward should always take the same amount of concentration as performing a heavy squat or deadlift. 

However, when we take into consideration the total number of times that we perform a squat or hinge in one day we can see the overall volume that these movements represent within our daily lives. 

Why does it matter?

You may now be able to recognize how movement plays so much more of a role within our lives than just the physical activities we associate with the word itself.

We often think that the greatest risk of injury occurs while performing sports or athletic activities.

There’s absolutely truth to that, but only to a certain extent...

For example, how many times has someone tweaked their back while bending forward to pick up something from the floor? 

While traumatic injuries do occur, repetitive stress injuries that result from poor movement patterns throughout the course of the day seem to occur much more frequently.

Our movement habits influence our overall health:

Our default movement patterns when we bend, squat, or reach for something when we’re not thinking about how we’re moving help to tell a larger story of our movement habits.

The way in which we move, regardless of the activity, has an overall impact on our bodies as well as the way that we feel each day.

Just like how good technique helps reduce injuries while exercising or playing a sport, being aware of how we perform simple activities throughout each day can keep us healthier and more physically capable in the long term.

We can expand our understanding of movement beyond just physical activity and begin to incorporate these habits of conscious and purposeful movement to the activities of our daily lives.

What is the lesson here?

If there’s anything that we would like for you to take away from this blog it’s this: 

Movement is more than just the physical activities that we partake in, but the way in which we navigate the space we live in each day. 

Our movement habits have the power to help or hamper our ability to move throughout the course of our lives.

If we can take the time to become more aware of the habits we’ve developed, while gaining a better understanding of what good movement habits look like, we can take advantage of these opportunities and improve the quality of our lives. 

This means something different for everyone. For most of us it means less pain, lower stress levels, more days spent enjoying physical activities, and the list goes on! 

That’s why we do what we do, to inspire people to move with purpose so they can take back control of their physical health and well-being.

Take a minute to think about your movement habits. Small changes can make big impacts. With this new perspective on movement, what small changes could you make to start moving better today?

If you have questions or are interested in learning more about this topic please don’t hesitate to reach out!

If you’re currently experiencing pain from a new or previous injury, or if you’re interested in preventative care, we would be more than happy to help! 

Feel free to book an appointment for a free consultation by calling or by visiting our online booking site at: https://momentachiropractic.janeapp.com/