Backs are possibly my favorite subject. I suffered horrendously with back pain through my late teens and twenties thanks to a rollerblading accident I had, age 17, in which I damaged my coccyx. The bouts of physical pain I experienced were exhausting. My moods would sink to an all all-time low, I was always tired, taking time off work etc. The term that would get bandied around was ‘glassy back’. At first, I used to rest and take painkillers as instructed, then one day I decided to ask my father for help. Backs are his favorite subject too. In the 1970’s, he trained at Walton Hospital and specialised in Neuro Medicine and Neuro Surgery nursing and, worked in spinal injuries and disease clinics. In the 1980s, he discovered Kinesiology, Cransiosacral Therpay and Ishta Spinal Touch. He never looked back.
My back problem took a few sessions to correct. Everybody is different and, everybody is an individual; – some can be corrected in one session while, others can take a few more. I discovered that although I had a structural problem, I also had a ‘”stressy back’”, which meant that, in times of stress my back would ‘go’, then without fail, three days later I would be in pain.
As a result, I learned Lesson No. 1: – Manage reactions to stress. When the body is stressed, muscles tense up.
Muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stress — the body’s way of guarding against injury and pain. With sudden onset stress, the muscles tense up all at once, then release their tension when the stress passes. Chronic stress causes the muscles in the body to be in a more or less constant state of guardedness. When my muscles tensed up, they started to pull on my vertebrae and my problems would begin.
By 2006, I was my father’s apprentice and learned, all I could about the spine and body. I was hooked. Although my father is a brilliant teacher, we both decided that it wasn’t really cool to say “I got my certificate from my Dad”, so in 2012, I went to The Academy of Systematic Kinesiology to train further. Just like my Dad, I have never looked back.
What have I learned now? Well, back problems can be a result not only of structure and stress, but lifestyle choices too.
Lesson No.2: – Manage Lifestyle. My diet (which was atrocious) was also a contributory factor in my back problems. When the digestive system is not at 100%, back trouble is one of the most common symptoms. When my back pain was present, my moods were low and my dietary intake was terrible. I started the long road of changing my lifestyle. Not only did it help my back problems but, my reaction to stress also changed.
Kinesiology gave me a wide range of tools that I use to address each issue on an emotional, chemical, physical and electrical level to help my clients. Each back issue is different, and clinic sessions are tailored to suit the client’s body’s needs and requirements. Sessions can involve muscle testing to find the nutrition that will strengthen the muscles; stimulating acupressure points to help ease pain and strengthen the body system; and stress management techniques. Advice on back management is also given as homework.
In 2014, I completed my Kinesiology practitioners’ training, then went on to study Craniosacral Therapy. Back issues became a lot more fascinating.
My back only troubles me now when I do activities like moving a double mattress on my own, or travelling for four weekends in a row dragging a little suitcase behind me. I now have a strong back and I love helping others achieve a strong back too.