Why Physiotherapy Should Be Part of Your Crop Over Preparation
As the Crop Over season kicks into high gear, I suggest that you get an assessment from your physiotherapist. Even if you are not currently in pain, a visit to your therapist should be part of your routine preparation as Crop Over approaches.
We often think of physiotherapy for the resolution of problems; however, we also work well with prevention.
Physiotherapy plays an important role in Crop Over preparation since the season comes with its own unique demands on your body. Many people are out and about more. They are partying and maybe even drinking more than usual. It isn’t uncommon to have more than one party or fete being held on any given day.
What this means is that your level of fatigue will be higher since you are doing more. A body that is not well rested will be more susceptible to injury. Even things that were just a niggle can increase with fatigue and dehydration, often associated with drinking more alcoholic beverages than usual.
In addition to fatigue, you will likely spend longer periods on your feet. Many parties do not necessarily include seating. This means that you may be standing or dancing for most of the night. Your legs will be more tired with this increase in activity.
The Physical Demands of Crop Over
Dancing can at times be energetic and calls on cardiovascular endurance coupled with flexibility, depending on the moves of the dance. This can put pressure on the hips and knees, especially seeing that you would likely be standing a lot as well.
For those who have had previous back, hip, or knee injuries, this activity can be enough to aggravate or flare old injuries.
On Kadooment Day, the costumes may be weighted if you are wearing a headpiece or large backpack. This increased weight on your back has to be distributed through your spine and lower extremities. If your core is not strong, this will also put more stress on your back.
In general, people do more during the season and are definitely more active. This is why you will need some recovery time following the season.
Why Pain Often Increases During Crop Over
Due to the increased demand on the body, oftentimes people experience pain during and after the season. This can be a result of existing problems that they have ignored since they were not affecting their lifestyle previously.
As mentioned before, people tend to be more active and are out more socialising. This usually results in a reduction in the amount of sleep that they are having. Sleep is important for physical and mental recovery. A reduction in it definitely leaves the body more vulnerable to aches and pains.
Pain can also result from the increase in activity where people’s endurance is low. Crop Over requires you to have some endurance to be able to keep up with the number of parties.
All of this makes you more susceptible to injuries to your back, knees, and even your feet.
How Physiotherapy Can Help
Here is how physiotherapy helps. We can identify those areas of your body that may be more prone to injury based on your mobility, flexibility, and strength.
If there are existing aches and pains, we can treat them prior to an increase in symptoms, which would likely affect your enjoyment of the season.
At PhysioCare, we can help you improve flexibility and strength. We can also help you create a plan that will minimise the likelihood of increased pain during or after the season.
Remember, we are here for all stages of life. So we not only help with injury resolution, but we can also help with injury prevention as well.
Don't Wait Until You're in Pain
So don’t wait until after Crop Over when you are in pain to seek us out.
Make an appointment today to be assessed by your physiotherapist and enjoy the season with greater confidence, comfort, and peace of mind. Let’s move well and live well.