Relieve Low Back Pain | Reduce Low Back Pain | Canada's Leading Authority in Human Movement | Dev Chengkalath

In my last post I listed 7 reasons why I believe New Year’s Resolutions fail.

Over the next little while I’m going to explore each of those reasons and relate it back to movement, injury rehab, fitness and health.

First on the docket is accountability.

What does accountability really mean and why does it even matter?

The definition above is taken from Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary and I think it encompasses the main idea quite well.

Are we really willing to accept responsibility for our actions or lack thereof? Are we ready to admit that our results are based on what we have done or not done? That these results are based on what we’ve chosen to do or chosen not to do?

Are we willing to put the blame from lack of results squarely on our own shoulders? Are we willing to accept that our achievements were our very own?

Basically, as stated by Merriam-Webster, are we in a position to accept absolute responsibility?

At this point you’re probably scratching your head and wondering how this ties in with movement, injury rehab, fitness or health?

If you want to lose weight, it’s simple. If you want to gain muscle, it’s simple. If you want to rehab your injury, it’s usually quite simple. If you want to improve your health, avoid diabetes, obesity, heart disease or any other life-altering ailment, it’s definitely simple.

(For the record, simple DOES NOT mean easy).

But are we willing to say no to the extra serving of pasta and increase our activity levels regularly? Are we willing to slam down those extra 2000 calories a day and hit the gym when we just want to crawl into bed and sleep? Are we willing to take the appropriate recovery breaks or practice the same “boring” rehab exercises over and over again to retrain our faulty movement patterns or fix our mobility issues when we know there is something more “interesting” on the TV? Are we willing to take charge of what we put into our bodies, eschewing the toxins, the chemicals, the processed crap we call food? Are we ready to take responsibility for what we subject our bodies to, or how we treat them every day?

Then we have to ask ourselves, who are we responsible to?

Who would we be letting down if we fail?

Is it ourselves? Our friends and families? Our parents? Our children? Our neighbours? Society? The healthcare system?

Is is to all of them? Some of them? None of them?

In the end, I guess I’ve asked more questions than I’ve answered and they’re questions that only you can answer.

Just realize that if there is no built in accountability to your health and fitness goals or resolutions, the odds that you’ll follow through on them diminish dramatically and all you’ll end up with is a written wish list which will leave you in the same place you were in yesterday.

Yours in movement.

Dev Chengkalath

“Every man is the builder of a temple called his body”

Henry David Thoreau

I agree.

If you want to see what Mike had to say, check out his blog:

http://mboyle1959.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/most-people-are-dead-at-35/

Yours in movement.

Dev Chengkalath

LARGE BREASTS.

Warning: May cause severe back pain

“Where the heck is he going with this one?!?”

I am going to assume that’s what you’re thinking.

And rightly so. 

Read on to find out how big breasts are related to back pain… 

While I’ve discussed many learned or habitual causes of back pain, there is an area that I haven’t spent much time talking about. 

Structural causes. 

Now these types of causes are many and can include bone related issues as scoliosis (curvatures of the spine), leg length discrepancies (one leg shorter than the other), or a number of other problems related to the structural make up of various human tissues (bones, joints, tendons, ligaments etc). 

One such structural issue that is fairly common, but not often discussed, is the case of the massive mammaries. 

Being a male physical therapist working under the auspices of the Regulated Health Professions Act, I’ve had to broach this subject with my clients with significant caution.

You can’t just tell someone that their boobs are causing their back pain. Even if that’s really the case.

That being said, this problem is very real for those that suffer from it and must be addressed.

For this problem, there are a few solutions I’d like to suggest:

1. Proper bra fitting: Obviously, not being a bra expert myself, I’ve had to reach into my extended network of colleagues and experts for information (no matter what industry you’re in, you MUST have a network you can access for things you don’t know!-but that’s for another post!) This includes the correct size, style, support and structure. Even a small change such as a wider shoulder strap can make a HUGE difference. So for all you women out there, have your brassieres professionally fitted. 
2. Fix your posture. ‘Nuff said. 
3. Lose excess body weight: This is not only important for back pain issues but also for health issues. My good buddy Rocco has a program that can help you out. You can check it out HERE.
4. Get in shape: If you have a heavy chest that collapses you forward, you need strong, resilient muscles to defy gravity and keep you upright. Get strong. Get fit. 
5. Breast reduction surgery: Sometimes, it’s gotta be done. Your health is probably worth more than having cleavage. 

So there you have it. Big breasts and back pain.

The silence has ended.

Dev Chengkalath

I’ve been in the health and fitness business as a physical therapist and human movement specialist long enough to have learned an important lesson.

Health doesn’t sell.

On one hand, everyone cares about it. But on the other hand, it’s just not sexy enough.

You don’t see major corporations touting health as a major benefit of their products, unless their product is inherently unhealthy and they want you to think otherwise.  

So if health isn’t what everyone is after, what’s the holy grail? What’s everybody looking for?

Jamie Eason

Looking good naked.

Can you deny that?

I know I can’t.

Can you honestly say that with every grueling workout you push through, you don’t think of the benefits to your physique before you think of the benefits to your health?

I know I can’t.

And that is the fallacy of exercising solely for health. 

Keep on moving to look good naked.

Dev Chengkalath.

Randy Jackson was a guest on ABC’s The View this morning.

Even though he had a gastric bypass to jump-start his rapid weight loss, he had three simple words of wisdom that, when applied correctly, can initiate incredible changes to you body, your health and your life.

“Just move more.”

The human body was designed to move. So move more often, and not just for exercise. Try to use your muscles whenever you can.

For example, try the stairs instead of the elevator or the escalator.

Walk places instead of driving.

If you do drive, try parking farther away from the entrance and walk a bit more.

At work, go for a walk during your lunch break.

These are all simple habits that will increase your daily movement and keep you in better shape and better health.

Just move more.

Dev Chengkalath