Do your joints crack and your muscles ache when you get out of bed in the morning? This could simply be a sign of aging, or it could be a symptom of one of several medical conditions that can cause morning stiffness.
If it takes you longer and longer to get going in the morning or if morning pain and stiffness interfere with your normal morning routine or daily activities, then it is time to see your doctor. Morning stiffness can be a sign of such disorders as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome or lupus. While certain medications can help people suffering from these disorders control their pain, a person with a musculoskeletal disorder can also benefit from a physical therapist-designed morning stretching routine that addresses the specific symptoms.
If your doctor rules out a medical condition as the reason for your morning discomfort, then the aches and stiffness most likely are due to natural aging. When the body is inactive during sleep, fluids accumulate in the tissues. This is a normal process, but it makes the muscle tissue more gel-like and difficult to move. The same thing happens in the discs of tissue that act as cushions between the vertebrae of the spine. During the night they absorb fluid and swell, so that the flexibility in your spine is decreased. Morning aches may make you want to limit your movements, but that will only make things worse.
Regardless of your age and physical condition, we can develop a set of gentle stretching exercises to be performed each morning toimprove your circulation and loosen up your muscles and spine. We can develop exercises that will also increase your range of motion, decrease pain and, along with a hot shower, get you on your way to enjoying your daily activities.
