“The definition of pain and injury is when load exceeds capacity. Manage or change one or both of these and your injury risk goes down”

When it comes to physical injuries, most people think of one-time incidents where a specific event or load causes immediate damage—like a sprained ankle, muscle strain, or a joint injury. This type of injury is common and easy to recognize, often resulting from a single, intense action that overwhelms our body’s limits.

However, injuries can also develop gradually, and this second type is actually more common. Repeated movements or prolonged activities can wear down muscles, tendons, or ligaments over time. For instance, athletes often experience this with repetitive stress on their tendons or joints, which can lead to chronic pain, inflammation, and eventually a more serious injury.

The most straightforward way to manage this type of cumulative injury is by decreasing the load. But what if your activities aren't especially strenuous, or your daily demands aren’t excessive? In these cases, it becomes essential to focus on enhancing the body’s capacity to handle these loads.

Why Your Body’s Capacity Matters

Your body’s load capacity isn’t fixed; it’s influenced by factors like strength, flexibility, and especially body mechanics. Imagine holding a 5-pound weight close to your chest, then slowly extending it away from your body. The weight doesn’t change, but your arm’s ability to hold it does. This shift illustrates how body mechanics impact our capacity to manage even moderate loads.

Tightness or restricted movement in areas like the shoulders, back, or hips can significantly reduce your load capacity. These restrictions put extra strain on muscles and joints, increasing the likelihood of pain or injury. By assessing and improving these mechanics, you help your body manage loads more effectively, facilitating healing, reducing pain, and enhancing your ability to stay active.

If you’re ready to improve your movement mechanics and prevent injuries, look no further than Walkers Health and Performance. We have a solution for your pain right here in Burlington. Book with us and experience a comprehensive approach to wellness—uniting chiropractic, physiotherapy, and massage to support your peak performance in Burlington.