Have You Hit Summer Hard? Your Body Might Need a Reset

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Summer is brilliant...

Long walks. Hiking trips. Camping weekends. Festivals. Cycling. Golf. Gardening. Holidays. City breaks. Days out. Dancing. Road trips.

And then there’s the inevitable moment when your body quietly says:

“Right. That’s enough now.”

Maybe your back has started to feel stiff. Your knee is complaining on hills. Your shoulder isn’t happy after carrying luggage. Your neck has been grumpy since that hotel pillow. Or perhaps you’re simply feeling a little more battered than you’d like to admit.

If you’ve packed plenty into your summer, it could be time for a Summer Reset.

Your body has probably done more than usual

Summer often means being much more active than we are during the rest of the year.

You might have:

  • Walked further than usual while exploring somewhere new
  • Tackled a few Munros or longer hikes
  • Spent a weekend camping
  • Danced for hours at a festival
  • Increased your running or cycling
  • Played more golf
  • Spent days gardening
  • Driven for hours on a road trip
  • Carried suitcases, backpacks and camping equipment
  • Slept in unfamiliar beds
  • Simply spent much more time on your feet

None of these things are bad for you.

In fact, being active is fantastic for your health.

But suddenly increasing your activity, doing something you’re not used to, or repeating the same movement for several days can expose a problem that wasn’t bothering you before.

And sometimes a small niggle that would normally settle hasn’t quite got the message.

“It’s only a niggle”…

We’ve all done it.

It’ll be fine.

I’ll give it a few days.

It’ll settle down.

I’ll deal with it after the holiday.

Then three weeks later, you’re still avoiding the hill because your knee hurts.

Or you’re turning your whole body rather than your neck because looking over your shoulder is uncomfortable.

Or you’ve stopped doing something you enjoy because that annoying little problem has gradually become a bigger one.

You don’t necessarily need to stop being active. You may just need to understand what’s going on.

That’s where physiotherapy can help.

A Summer Reset isn’t about telling you to slow down

At Alba Physiotherapy, our aim isn’t to put you in a bubble and tell you to stop doing everything you enjoy.

Quite the opposite.

We want to help you keep doing the things you love.

During a physiotherapy assessment, we’ll look at what’s causing your symptoms, how you’re moving, what’s contributing to the problem and what you need to be able to get back to doing.

Depending on what we find, treatment may form part of your session, alongside advice and exercises tailored to you.

Most importantly, you’ll leave with a clear plan.

Not just:

“Come back next week.”

But an understanding of what we’ve found, what you can do about it and what your next steps should be.

Getting back to your normal after summer

Maybe you’ve got another walking trip coming up.

Maybe you’re getting back into running.

Perhaps you’re heading into the gym after taking the summer off.

Maybe football, golf or another sport is starting back up.

Or perhaps you simply want to be able to get through your day without constantly thinking about your back, knee, hip, shoulder or neck.

Whatever your goal, physiotherapy can help you work out what’s getting in the way.

And you don’t have to wait until something is really painful before doing something about it.

Or maybe you just need to feel less battered…

Not every post-summer body needs a full rehabilitation programme.

Sometimes you’ve simply done a lot.

A lot of walking.

A lot of driving.

A lot of sitting.

A lot of carrying.

A lot of dancing.

A lot of sleeping somewhere that wasn’t your own bed.

If you’re feeling generally tight, stiff and knackered after a busy summer, a treatment or massage session may be exactly what you need to help you feel more comfortable and ready for the next adventure.

Your summer isn’t over. Give your body a reset.

At Alba Physiotherapy in Inverness, we work with people who want to stay active, recover from injuries and keep doing the things they enjoy.

So whether summer has left you with a specific niggle or you’re simply feeling like your body could do with some attention, now is a good time to do something about it.

You’ve looked after everyone else.

You’ve packed the tent.

Carried the bags.

Walked the hills.

Danced until midnight.

Driven for hours.

Now give your body a little attention too.

Ready for your Summer Reset?

Book a physiotherapy assessment at Alba Physiotherapy in Inverness and let’s get you feeling ready for whatever comes next.

Brid Walsh

Brid Walsh

Brid qualified in 2004 with a BSC Honours Degree in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of Limerick, Ireland. In evaluating her future path, she spent a summer in Alaska with the Hope Foundation supporting disabilities of various sorts. Her further work experience in the Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin convinced her that Physiotherapy was the direction she wished to specialise in. In 2007 she subsequently qualified from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen with an MSC in Physiotherapy.
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