Peter is a prime example of someone who has always exercised and has continued to do so into his adult years. However, many of the exercises we adopt in our youthful years are far from ideal, especially in an ageing body that has inadvertently developed imbalances that aren’t monitored and are often difficult to detect for the uninitiated. Unfortunately, we live in an era where looks have become more important than function and yet both can go hand in hand when a well-balanced exercise program is put in place.
In Peter’s case, he hasn’t stopped exercising. He has merely changed the way he exercises and now has specific self-management checks and balances in place, making sure he doesn’t deviate from an equilibrium point where functional movement and strength can happily coexist. If everyone learned how to perform stretching and activation exercises at an early age, they would supply themselves with most of the answers as to what is right and wrong.
That is why the trend of discouraging young children to play on monkey bars at schools might save the occasional broken arm, but there will be many more children growing up not understanding the benefits awakening those posture-related muscle groups that align and support our spine. This is why we have an epidemic of posture-related muscular skeletal conditions in today’s society. You simply can’t be aware of something that you don’t know how to activate or recruit.
After lifting weights for over 30 years, I hurt my right shoulder during a routine weight session. I was 44 and was quite distressed that something serious could be wrong. I wasn’t able to get my arms back behind my shoulders, I had pain when pouring a cup of tea or simply trying to shower myself. I was in so much pain that I couldn’t even get a broom stick on my shoulders.
After seeing many sports physicians I finally came to see Dr Kevin Woods. He looked at my MRI Scans and said that I had a few issues but nothing that surgery was going to fix, He told me that he would send me to see someone.
I said “Will the person be able to help me?” He said “I will send you to someone who knows what he’s talking about, and he won’t take any crap. He’s an ex-Olympian and knows what he’s talking about. He will show you how to get your body back into shape.”
I was able to perform the exercises I have come to love and enjoy.
That’s where Stu comes in. After seeing Stu for regular treatment, I finally started to get back into the gym once again. Stu taught me what I needed to strengthen, and how to stretch and also explained why my body was in so much pain. I’ve said to people that he’s saved my life. You see the most depressed people you’ll ever meet are those athletes that are not able to compete again at the highest level that they once used to. After months of learning how to stretch and keeping away from exercises I should avoid, I finally got back to training once again. Whilst I will not be able to ever lift the weights I once used (also due to getting older), I was able to perform the exercises I have come to love and enjoy.
