I’m sure many of you have experienced pain in a joint that has kept you from moving. Perhaps ankle, knee, or foot pain has limited you so much that you avoid squatting to reach things on the floor, tie your kids’ shoes, or access items in a low cabinet. Maybe you formed habits to avoid the pain, so now you bend from the hips, ask others to reach floor level items for you, or you ask your kid to throw their untied shoes onto your lap.
It is natural to adopt new ways of moving when we are hurting. But not working to address the reasons we’ve adapted these new habits is an issue.
Kinesiophobia is the fear of movement or physical activity. The progression of acute pain (pain that comes on quickly and lasts for a short time) to chronic pain (pain that carries on longer than 12 weeks) can stem from kinesiophobia.
This is a big deal!
If we can move past the FEAR of the movement that causes pain, we can eliminate the pain! We can prevent chronic pain!
Here is the big takeaway→ If you are experiencing pain with a movement and you see a provider who tells you to stop the movement, RUN! We do not need to stop the movement. We need to eliminate the fear surrounding the movement and then mobilize and strengthen your body to tolerate the movement. Our bodies were created to move. So, in the hands of the right movement professional, there is not a move you should not be able to do!
If there is a movement you are afraid of, talk to us!
Dr. Rachel Atufunwa, PT, DPT