No gain, no pain.
Yes, you read it right.
Weight gain causes all sorts of pain. This doesn’t happen sometime down the road, the pains that come with weight gain can hit you nice and early in life, it could be affecting you now. Weight management is always spoken about as something to do for yourself for the distant future. People are told they have to lose weight to avoid a heart attack in 30 years. While that is a good reason, it probably doesn’t resonate with anyone focused on the here and now. So for those who like to live in the moment, it’s important to know that carrying excess weight could be causing you discomfort right now.
Being overweight causes low back pain. This is due to the increased force placed on the spine, the loss of muscle strength and shift in your centre of gravity. Carrying extra weight also increases the likelihood your back problem developing into sciatica – the nerve pain felt in the legs that originates in the spine.
Carrying a few extra kilos also cause significant knee pain. The risk of developing knee arthritis is seven times higher for the obese compared to those that are categorised as just ‘overweight’. The good news here is that depending on your size a little bit of weight loss makes a massive difference to pain levels!
So if you know you have some extra weight to lose, go for it. Your joints will thank you. The only negative side effect is that you might put your friendly neighbourhood chiropractor out of business.
I recommend seeing your healthcare professional before undertaking any weight loss program.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22237485
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26996726
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26554281
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24939675
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26297359
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2528971
Something here sound like you? Scott can assess it properly.
Book a visit
Scott Leabeater - Principal Chiropractor
Most people come in because they're in pain. Some have just hurt themselves, some have seen other practitioners without success, and some have just moved to the area. Either way, they want to understand why it hurts, and they want to fix it.
When new patients come in, we discuss how the pain started and what it's stopping you doing. I examine the injury and anything nearby that might be contributing, then explain what I think is happening in plain English, including how long it should take to settle. Unless you need a scan first, treatment starts that day.
Since opening The Backstory in Caringbah in 2017, I've treated everyone from local office workers to Olympic athletes. The approach is the same for all of them: take the time, find the cause, and give you a plan you can actually stick to.
Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and Master of Chiropractic, Macquarie University · International Sports Chiropractic Certification · SOT · GEMT
Ready when you are
Book online any time, day or night. Or call, and we'll find a time that suits you.