7 Signs Your Body Is Asking for Help

2. You Keep Getting the Same Ache

Perhaps it’s your lower back after gardening. Maybe it’s your shoulder after working at the computer. Or perhaps your neck starts hurting every few weeks. If the same problem keeps returning, it’s tempting to simply treat it whenever it appears and carry on. But recurring pain can sometimes be your body’s way of telling you that the underlying issue hasn’t been addressed. There could be a number of reasons for this, including muscle weakness, restricted movement, poor working habits or the way you are moving during everyday activities. Pain coming and going doesn’t necessarily mean the problem has disappeared. Sometimes it simply means the irritation has settled down temporarily.

3. You Can’t Move Like You Used To

Think about something you used to do without giving it a second thought. Touching your toes. Getting down on the floor. Reaching behind your back. Turning your head while reversing the car. If these movements have gradually become more difficult, don’t simply put it down to getting older. Some reduction in flexibility and mobility is a normal part of ageing, but staying active can make a huge difference. Your body is designed to move. The less you use certain movements, the less comfortable they can become.

4. You’re Constantly Tired and Carrying Tension

Not every physical problem starts with an injury. Stress can have a very real effect on the body. When life gets hectic, many of us unconsciously tense our shoulders, clench our jaw or tighten the muscles around our neck. Do that for long enough and it can become your normal. You might notice headaches, a tight neck, aching shoulders or a general feeling that you simply can’t relax physically. Of course, tiredness and stress can have many causes, so persistent fatigue should never automatically be blamed on muscular tension. But if you regularly feel physically wound up, it’s worth paying attention to.

5. Your Balance Isn’t Quite What It Used to Be

Balance is something most of us take for granted until it starts to change. Perhaps you feel less steady when putting your shoes on. Maybe you’re more cautious on uneven ground or have noticed that you need to hold onto the banister more often. Balance relies on much more than your feet. Your muscles, joints, eyes and nervous system all contribute. Maintaining strength and mobility as we get older is important for staying confident and independent. If you’ve noticed a significant or sudden change in your balance, particularly if it comes with other symptoms, speak to your GP or another appropriate healthcare professional.

6. You Keep Compensating for One Part of Your Body

Our bodies are remarkably good at adapting. If one area isn’t moving properly, another part will often pick up the slack. You might find yourself leaning to one side when sitting, avoiding putting weight through one leg, turning your whole body instead of your neck, or using your arms differently because of a sore shoulder. These adaptations aren’t necessarily bad. They’re often the body’s way of protecting an area that hurts. However, if you’ve been compensating for weeks or months, it may be worth finding out why.

7. You’re Avoiding Things You Used to Enjoy

This one is perhaps the easiest to overlook. You stop going for long walks because your knee starts aching. You give up gardening because your back complains afterwards. You don’t play golf as often because your shoulder isn’t quite right. You stop going to the gym because certain exercises don’t feel comfortable.

The problem isn’t necessarily the activity itself. It may be that your body isn’t currently coping with the demands you’re putting on it. Pain shouldn’t automatically mean you have to give up the things you enjoy. Sometimes the answer is finding a better way to move, strengthening the right areas and gradually building your tolerance back up.

Listen to Your Body Before It Shouts

Your body doesn’t always give you a dramatic warning when something needs attention. Sometimes it’s simply a little stiffness. Sometimes it’s an ache that keeps returning. Sometimes it’s the fact that something you used to do easily has gradually become difficult. None of these signs automatically means that something is seriously wrong. There are many reasons why people develop aches, pains and changes in mobility. The important thing is not to ignore persistent or worsening symptoms.

An osteopath can assess how your muscles, joints and movement patterns are working together and, where appropriate, provide hands-on treatment alongside advice about exercise and everyday movement. And if your symptoms suggest that you need medical assessment rather than osteopathic care, a good practitioner should tell you that too. So, take a moment today to think about your own body.

Is there something you’ve been putting up with?

Something that keeps coming back?

Or something you can no longer do quite as easily as you once could?

Perhaps your body has been asking for a little help for longer than you realised.