It seems everyone today wants to get the benefits of sleep without having to actually do it! People cut out rest and sleep and obsess about accomplishing more in less time.  Some suffer chronic sleep deprivation. How can you expect to have adequate energy without sufficient sleep and rest?

According to Terri Rodda, Friendship Heights Rehab, "Many of my patients have a difficult time adjusting to an 'enforced' rest period. They have had extremely active lives and, due to illness or injury, are forced to 'sit on the bench' and watch life pass them by. Often they become angry or resentful toward their bodies, sometimes exercising beyond safety limits and ultimately re-injure or exacerbate their condition and may end up prolonging their agony."

Rest and sleep are a necessity. During rest and sleep our bodies recharge our energy supplies while specialized bodily functions get rid of waste produced during activity, as well as incorporating nutrients for renewal of cells.

There is a balanced flow in and out of our bodies. Likewise, there is a time for doing and being productive and a time for resting and allowing the body to replenish. If you keep going and ignore the body's warning signals to stop and rest, then the body gives stronger signals such as pain. Eventually the body gives a very strong signal such as incapacitating pain to force you to stop.

Some people are totally unaware of their bodies. When asked to close their eyes and allow the therapist to move their arm into a position, they often cannot tell where the arm is in space. They say their bodies don’t feel like they belong to them.

Imagine what our roads would look like if we had a constant stream of traffic, day and night, without making any repairs. Road repair is usually done during the slower traffic times because it is difficult to do repairs during peak traffic hours. Similar activities occur in our bodies. Repair, replenishment and growth take place during rest and sleep.

Likewise, weight/strength training is done every other day rather than daily because weight training stimulates the body to build new muscle. Then the body needs a day of rest to do the work of adding the muscle.

Next time you get sick or injured, set aside time to rest and recover. Take the attitude you overdid some activity in life and your body has given you the message to take it easy. It is your body’s way of communicating that its delicate balance was thrown off. Take heed and listen to your body. You may be rewarded with good health.

Physical therapy is the identification and treatment of faulty movements, impaired flexibility and weakened or tight muscles that cause discomfort or pain and affect your daily life in a negative way.

At Friendship Heights, we have helped our patients to achieve excellent results in recovering from pain and injuries through physical therapy programs designed specifically to meet their own needs and help them return to their normal, pain free state.

Therese Rodda is the owner and a physical therapist at Friendship Heights Rehabilitation Center. Her training in health through exercise, includes an emphasis on raising awareness of the body so that each individual will be better equipped to continue the journey to full natural pain relief and optimum health.

If you or someone you love could benefit from our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Therese Rodda, P.T.

Friendship Heights Rehabilitation Center
5530 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Ph: 301-656-6977  F: 301-656-6977

10801 Lockwood Drive, Suite 280
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Ph: 301-576-6474

Links:
http://fhrehab.com/index.html - Friendship Heights Rehabilitation Center - Maryland Physical Therapy
http://fhrehab.com/ptServices.html - Physical Therapy Programs
http://media.fhrehab.com/tips_index.php - Friendship Heights Health Tips

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