We are all guilty of this. We cannot ignore it. We have all put on a few extra covid-kilos and soon it will have effects that you need to know about!
With gyms closed, exercise restrictions and more time spent at home, it’s no wonder we are packing on a few extra kilograms. These extra kilograms might seem harmless at first, but it is important to understand the effects it may have on your injury and risk of injury.
An increase in weight can also affect those with previous injuries and can slow down the healing process if not addressed appropriately.
An increase in weight may influence the following;
- Chronic heel pain
- Achilles’ tendon pain
- Ankle sprains
- Ankle instability
- ‘Shin’ pain
- Calf and Hip tightness
- Falls risk
- Knee pain
- Stress reactions and fractures
- Even lower back pain and many more!
So now you may be wondering how a few extra kilograms can influence all of the above?
Many trials and studies have proven that a sudden increase in weight can greatly influence the distribution of weight forces on the body and can increase the pressure placed on joints, muscles, ligaments and bones! Now imagine a slight increase of this pressure towards an area of your body that was already under stress or previous injury…YIKES!
So what can you do about this?
1) Hang tight! Restrictions will end very soon and hopefully we return back to a more normal sense of living with gyms, reduced outdoor restrictions and more activities!
2) Start small – studies have shown that making small changes such as increasing your daily step count daily can greatly assist you with shedding those covid-kilos
3) Limit fast food when possible – we have all been guilty of ordering more fast food during this pandemic and this can greatly increase our weight gain
4) Be kind to yourself – COVID has been extremely stressful for us all. Therefore, it is only normal that may have suffered from a forced change in lifestyle. Be kind to yourself, and understand that this has been a difficult time for us all. Small changes over an extended period of time will always compound so start small and enjoy the journey!
5) Seek further assistance – there are many individuals who can assist you with your weight-loss journey. Speak to us and we can help direct you to the right point of care!
6) Book an appointment with us! – We are always here to help. We can help you determine if your pain and weight are associated with each other and provide you with some guidance
And remember, we’re open throughout the extended lockdowns and are here to help if you need further advice around treatment or pain management to get you back doing what you love and to hit those personal goals!. You can book an appointment online or call our friendly help team on (03) 9711 7562. We’re here to help
