Thursday 19 March 2009

Watch your posture

Some time between the two half marathon's I ran in September and now, my posture has taken a noticeable dive.
Not sure what has caused this but I now have a major pain in the butt (or SI joint) again. (please see previous post).

Because I'm tall I often find myself slouching or leaning down and forward to talk with people, slouching in front of the computer or even sitting with one leg tucked under me. This causes a major misalignment of my hips to say the least. The worst offender? Lying on the couch watching the T.V. When will the crappy summer shows start so I can get outside and not be a slave to "Lost", "Dancing with the Stars" and gawd knows what other crapola I've been stuck on.

My chiropractor has been wonderful to work with and instead of saying "don't do this and don't do that" she gives me exercises to do and she really spends time with me to try to alleviate my pain. She is not one to fly in to the room, poke, prod, crack and leave. No, we discuss the various reasons that this may be happening, various trigger points that might help calm the area down and we even talk about proper eating, hydrating, along with sleeping positions and vitamin intake habits that might work to help the spine and hips of an aging pseudo-athlete. So far though, my SI joint is crying out for help and is not a happy camper.

Even driving in the car for longer periods of time are starting to get to me. You'd think with all the stretching, running and now cycling I'd be in fairly good shape and yes even injury free. Well, only time will tell, so for now I'm really concentrating on core exercises and yoga stretches.

On the running front, our mileage is starting to accumulate. Last Sunday was 26K and we are dropping down to 19K this week. The weekend of March 29, we jump to 29K. A year ago we ran the 29K distance at the Around the Bay Road Race. That was a lot of fun and definitely a race everyone should do at least once.

Well, there you go, my sad tale of woe, running will continue and hopefully be pain free, I really don't want to have to slow up too much more or horrors, drop the marathon totally.

Unlike this little meir cat, I'll try to remember to stand up straight with my tummy tucked in while working on my core and strengthening my S.I. joint and hips.

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

25 comments:

Unknown said...

I am with you on the posture needing improvement. My biggest downfall slouching in front of the computer. I try to remember to check my posture quite often but I am just not that good at it yet!
Good luck to you!

C said...

I've been thinking a lot about posture lately too. I want to work more on my core and maybe start sitting on my big red exercise ball at my desk instead of my chair. I too tuck one leg under the other when I sit down which I know is not good for me.

I hope you feel better soon, L!

Mel-2nd Chances said...

ok, i just sat up straighter too :) Feel better soon hun!

Unknown said...

Mercats are cool! It sounds like you are really getting some great help from your chiropractor. Keep doing all the right things and I'm sure you will find relief.

Wes said...

Ha! Posture is so important, and I have the worst at work!! I give myself all kinds of aches and pains in the wrong places...

It's funny how this relates to running form too. I realized the other day, while running on the mill, that my HR shot up when I did wacky things with my form.

Good stuff!!

Donald said...

I'm sorry I haven't checked in lately. As I have told Judi and others... my schedule got the best of me but I'm just glad to have a job! Looks like all is going well with you. Keep up that pedaling! I hope you get those Shimano cycling shoes you wrote about earlier. Happy Training... here comes the sun and warmer weather!

Marlene said...

I have hip pain ALL THE TIME and I have terrible posture... coincidence? maybe not. Maybe I should look into chiro - it is something I have never done.

19K will feel so short this week. :) Enjoy!

TNTcoach Ken said...

Ha, I sat up straighter when I read your post! Work those core muscles, they help keep you upright.

Marcy said...

Man I'm like the hunchback over here. Seriously I have the WORST posture ever. Hmmmmm maybe that is why the inside of my right butt cheek hurts LOL

Chic Runner said...

that little meerkat is HILARIOUS!! :) I am really bad a posture too. Reminds me to sit up straight right now! :)

Judi said...

one word: PILATES!

Nikemom said...

I find my self "humping" (that's slouching). :D I have to constantly watch my alignment and I agree with Judi - PILATES! Have a great Friday.

Amy said...

Sorry to hear of your hip/back troubles - just reading your tale made me think to sit up straight here at the computer - normally I sit all hunched over with my chin jutting out, terrible! It's so easy to be in your head and forget what your body is doing...

Vava said...

Man, hope that SI joint starts to cooperate and leaves you be! Your running seems to be coming along really nicely, that's for sure. Are you not doing ATB this year? I am, but for me this will be a milestone distance and not a training run!

Bert said...

Laurel - that worked on our postures, now we just have to take care of yours... Personal experience: I used to suffer for YEARS from lower back problems. Started doing regular ab & core exercises and the back pain is gone gone gone. I've found the physioball helpful, but just plain old crunches, leg lifts, planks, etc. can do wonders if you do them often enough. Go for it!

Anonymous said...

been there done that - twice - got the drugs... sometimes drugs are a good thing... especially when trying to sleep.

I also did physio therapy - which included - using the electric currents for pain, and acupuncture... both effective - that and exercises...

It was reading in bed that did me in... I can't do that any longer... so I sit my chair til I close to falling alseep and then move it on over for lights out.
I feel your pain girlfriend!

HUGS
Ter

Aka Alice said...

OMG! I do have the posture of a meir cat and I don't have being tall to blame... but because of your post, I am sitting up straighter now :-))

Chris said...

Hopefully your chiropractor gets you straightened up in a hurry.

Nat said...

Hip Back and butt pain... I hear you sister.

Anonymous said...

That is a very nasty injury you have there. I recognize the tendency to lean forward or to slouch (being tall myself). It is great that you have a chiropractor that you can really work with and that you feel comfortable with.

I hope the injury will soon get better and that you will be up and running pain-free again soon.

Have a great weekend.

Bob A said...

I hate that you're having joint problems. I hope the exercises help. It's interesting -- I find that on the days I don't run, I have problems with my back. If I run, nothing. Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog and for your kind words. The Isaiah passage is one of my favourites. Hebrews 12:1-3 is another -- it's another running passage.

Groover said...

Apparently the leaning back position is not all that bad, according to latest research. It puts less strain on the discs and is to be preferred over the straight upright sitting position we have been taught for so many years. I just learnt this in the Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinator course I did earlier this months.

bluecolnago said...

i can't sit up straight. :)

Vickie said...

I wonder if your problem now is somewhat similar to mine last fall when we ran in Toronto. Mine wasn't bad posture but it was very tight lower back muscles. A couple of things I have been doing since then is some new stretches that for now seem to be keeping me in fairly good shape. Email me if interested. And awesome running!

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