By: Stephanie Ruopp
Often times, back pain is generalized and difficult to diagnose.
On occasions where nothing shows up on an x-ray or a scan, it might be that you’re experiencing pain in your back, but the source of the problem is actually elsewhere.
The simple truth is – if your spine is not properly aligned and/or your muscles are tensing, it can create havoc throughout the rest of your body.
This is why health and fitness experts are increasingly recommending GYROTONIC® exercises to relieve back pain and stiffness.
Because it encourages a full range of spinal movement, using GYROTONIC® means you strengthen and stretch fully throughout your entire back. It may just be the most comprehensive system when it comes to back pain and stiffness.
So What Is GYROTONIC®?
GYROTONIC® is a series of circular movements that correct and realign the body. The movement series in GYROTONIC® takes the body and spine through various positions, including arching, curling and twisting of the spine.
Executing these movements in specific ways loosens the spine, the bones, and the rib cage. This, in turn, increases the range of motion in the body, while decreasing the amount of stiffness or pain experienced.
GYROTONIC® to Relieve Back Pain
If you have or have had back pain, you know that it decreases the range of motion throughout your body. And this makes it more difficult to move freely.
But utilizing exercises that help you to regain range of motion is a surefire way to start relieving back pain. This is precisely the intention behind GYROTONIC®.
The GYROTONIC® exercise system is unique in the way it facilitates motion in the spine while simultaneously strengthening it.
The primary piece of equipment used for GYROTONIC® is called the pulley tower. Adjustable weights help to strengthen underutilized muscles, while the user arches, rotates and curls the spine. This seamless flowing through movement helps to ease pain.
Of course, as we mentioned above, not all back pain is created equal. GYROTONIC® exercises are recommended for those who have been diagnosed with nonspecific back pain, have not recently had surgery for the pain, and have no future plans for surgery.
While there is some evidence showing that GYROTONIC® can be beneficial after multiple surgeries, this is definitely something which you’d want to first consult with your physical therapist who specializes in rehab GYROTONIC® .
Is GYROTONICS® Safe for Arthritis?
To preserve your joints, you need to keep them moving.
Even though arthritis can be painful and it can seem counterintuitive to move the joints, the exact opposite is the case. Lack of movement will only make the joints hurt more.
But the strengthening exercises of GYROTONIC® are designed to articulate the joints in such a way to increase range of motion while strengthening the muscles around the joints.
So it really is a win-win.
Easing a Stiff Back
Sometimes the back isn’t in pain so much as it just feels stiff and creaky.
Those who participate in GYROTONIC® even just once per week say they can feel the difference. They feel more mobility in their spines, and therefore stronger in their cores.
They’re not just imagining it either.
When the spine is more mobile, you’re bound to be better aligned. The head is stacked over the shoulders, the shoulders over the hips, and the hips over the ankles. When the skeletal system maintains this integrity, the bones – and therefore the muscles that surround them – can function to their full capacity.
Plus, the more mobile the spine, the stronger the abdominals as well. Because GYROTONIC® increases the range of motion in a stiff back, this allows the abdominals to turn on and work – whereas previously, the back would overcompensate and grow stiff trying to do the work of the abdominals.
Is GYROTONIC® Right for You?
Utilizing GYROTONIC® for back pain and stiffness could be exactly what you need. Especially if you have no particular diagnosis and surgery is not or has not been an option.
Contact us to be put in touch with one of our GYROTONIC® trained specialists. We have a lot of experience working with folks experiencing a wide range of physical limitations.
Whether it’s GYROTONIC®, Pilates, Physical Therapy, or all three, our focus is getting you back to a more active life. And we’re confident we can put you on that path.