There’s a big emphasis on “getting your body summer-ready” in the months coming up to the busy season. We prefer to focus on a full mind and body reset for the summer months.
A summer reset is the perfect time to refresh your health routine and prepare your body for increased outdoor activity.
Don’t forget to include Osteopathy in your summer health reset to help you move more freely and safely. This natural, non-invasive therapy supports mobility, heals pain or injuries, and boosts your overall physical and mental wellness during the busy summer months.
Keep reading to discover how (and why) to incorporate osteopathy in your summer health and wellness reset.
Why summer is the perfect time for a physical reset
Summer is an ideal time to reset your physical and mental well-being. With the longer summer days, you’re likely more motivated to be active and get outdoors for the fresh air and nice weather. This season also opens up more opportunities for outdoor physical activities such as:
- Walking
- Hiking
- Biking
- Canoeing and kayaking
- Outdoor play with the kids
All these outdoor activities may take a toll on your body, especially as you try new activities or work muscle groups that you’re not used to. Outdoor activities can cause muscle aches and pains or exacerbate underlying musculoskeletal issues.
To minimize pain or discomfort, talk to your osteopath. Tell them about the activities you plan to do, and they can help you prepare your body to increase your mobility and boost your performance. Throughout the season, as you experience pain, discomfort, or injury, your osteopath can help you find relief.
How osteopathy supports seasonal wellness
Osteopathy is a gentle, non-invasive practice that takes a whole-body approach to your musculoskeletal system. If you’re preparing to have a healthy summer, it can be part of your wellness routines to:
- Improve range of motion: This helps you move more freely, allowing you to enjoy a wide range of physical activities during the summer.
- Reduce muscle tension: Relaxed muscles promote physical relaxation and help reduce stress.
- Support joint health: Healthy joints mean easier movement and reduced summer joint swelling.
- Improve circulation and lymphatic flow: It gives you a boost of energy for your busier summer schedule and helps you flush toxins from your body.
- Relieve pain and prevent injury: As you live a more physically active summer, osteopathy can help alleviate pain and prevent injuries from popular summer activities, such as hiking, biking, swimming, and outdoor sports.
Common summer complaints osteopaths can help with
Summertime means spending more time outdoors and being more active. Here are common complaints osteopaths hear from their patients in the summertime and how osteopathy can heal or support your wellness:
- Gardening: Kneeling, heavy lifting, and reaching are common motions in gardening. Gardening requires muscles and motions that most of us don’t use in our daily lives, which can cause back, hip, and knee pain. A strong core and back muscles help minimize or prevent gardening pain. Osteopathy looks at how your bones, muscles, fascia, and nervous system work together to maintain spinal alignment and stability.
- Travel-related discomfort: Do you enjoy camping, flying, or taking long road trips in the summer? It’s not uncommon to experience travel-related pain or discomfort in your neck and lower back from prolonged sitting or sleeping on uncomfortable mattresses. Your osteopath can help you align your musculoskeletal system and provide tips and exercises or stretches to help prevent travel-related aches and pains.
- Repetitive strain and sports injuries: If you’re less active in the fall and winter months, summer activities like running, cycling, paddleboarding, and tennis can cause pain or repetitive strain injuries. Your osteopath can help you boost your circulation, to increase your safe range of motion and reduce the risk of common sports injuries caused by overuse or repetitive use.
- Heat-related swelling, inflammation, and headaches: Summer heat can cause swelling in joints (edema) and can also lead to headaches due to dehydration or heat stroke. Gentle osteopathic massage and treatments can help calm inflammation and boost your lymphatic flow to flush out excess fluid build-up.
What to expect from an osteopathic session in summer
Seeing your osteopath during the summer months isn’t much different than a visit any other time of the year:
- We start by discussing your health history, current concerns (or pain), and future health goals. Be sure to share what sports or physical activities you typically do, and what ones you add (or want to add) in the summer months.
- Your osteopath will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
- During appointments, your osteopath will perform non-invasive, gentle techniques to help you find pain relief, soothe your body, and calm your mind. The methods used will depend on your needs.
- You’ll leave your appointment with specific stretches, routines, or other between-appointment care instructions.
You’ll likely be reminded to drink plenty of water to keep your joints flexible, flush toxins, and stay energized. Ask your osteopath about postural tips if your summer activities cause you back pain or discomfort.
The frequency of your appointments with your osteopath is usually flexible, depending on your needs and activity level. Most visits will be weekly or biweekly throughout your active season. If you’re preparing for a major event, such as a race or tournament, you may need to see your osteopath more frequently.
Enjoy your summer…safely!
Summer is a glorious time to enjoy the great outdoors with yourself, your family or friends. The season may be short, but don’t feel that you need to push through the discomfort of pain or injury. Pain is a signal that something isn’t right, and your osteopath can help you find the relief you need.
Take a proactive approach to your health and wellness this summer with a summer reset appointment at Thuja Wellness. I can help you prepare your body for increased physical activities and summer heat through osteopathy. Let me help you add to your seasonal wellness toolkit so you can have your best, most active summer yet!
Book your next osteopathic appointment at Thuja Wellness now.
