How many of us love bending? Like actually love doing it – for whatever reason? Whether you’re exercising or just happen to drop something, the thought of stopping and putting your head where your feet go – well, it’s not exactly something we want to do on a regular basis. A necessity, sure. But not something that’s done for fun.

The act becomes even more of a chore as we age. Muscles are used less, creating pain and discomfort each and every time we bend. Aging can also mean gaining weight and losing flexibility – especially through the center of the body. Each of which combines to create a less-than-efficient experience for the bend.

Basically, the older, heavier, and least mobile you become, the more uncomfortable you’ll be with each and every bend.

But here’s where it gets tricky. Your body wants you to bend. It wants you to pick things up, to stretch, and to practice using your legs and back muscles as often as possible. (Safely, though.) It’s an act that works to strengthen and prepare the body for even more bending adventures. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. It just has to be done in a safe and effective manner.

For the most part, we hate doing it – whether from being lazy or unable, or due to an uncomfortable feeling. Meanwhile, our body is doing everything in its power to get us to bend. To get us to develop and use those muscles until their better prepared for even more bending. Hence the love/hate relationship.

Back Pains as a Recurring Event

What further adds to the “hate” from the back’s side of the story is that of pain. Mild or severe, it’s an act that makes us want to curl up with an ice pack (or heat pack, depending on your medical professional’s advice and the cause of the pain), take some pain medication, and hope for the best. Without moving for long periods of time.

And the thing about the back is that every injury is different. Some muscles need to be worked and stretched and some rested and relaxed. It’s virtually impossible to tell what needs what until you actually do it. And it works … or doesn’t work. Some injuries need something else still, and are finicky as to what type of treatment(s) their after on any given day.

Once again, this complicates the art of bending. Some days it helps, others it could only be poking the beast. It might even do a little bit of both, or hurt excruciatingly even though it’s helping. Creating an even more complicated form of back spasm treatments.

The Art of Bending

If you’re unsure as to what your back can or can’t take, talk to your doctor. They’ll let you know if any type of movement is too strenuous. If not, start bending in small doses. Start out small and infrequently. Walk, stretch, and of course, get in a few tiny bends to get the back muscles pumping and aware of their new movements. Then, you can continue to perform more and deeper bends until you become better acquainted with the action.

Eventually, bending won’t be a pain, but a way to stretch some of your deeper muscles. Maybe even an easy way to get some mild exercise in throughout the day. And to better increase blood and oxygen flow throughout the parts of your body that need it most. (Injured or picky muscles.)

Whether you’re a lover or hater of the bend, consider learning more about his movement and how it can help improve your body’s health.