It’s not uncommon for a physiotherapy clinic to be approached by new clients who are not able to fully articulate a malady or malfunction that they are experiencing. One verbalization that our reception desk receives from time to time goes something like this; “My body feels heavy”. These same individuals describe feeling sluggish, although they don’t report any symptoms of a medical condition such as cold, flu, or viral infection. The heaviness also does not accompany notable pains and irritations that may indicate illness or disease. Further, the feeling does not co-occur with significant weight gain and/or bloating. Simply put, they just feel heavy and weighted down and they don’t know why. If you’re among them, find peace of mind that you’ve come to the right place for answers. Read ahead to learn more.
Non-Medical Reason Why Your Body Feels Heavy and Sluggish and What You Can Do to Feel Better
Muscle Fatigue
Muscle fatigue can make you feel heavy because your muscles are tired. When tired, they don’t contract efficiently, muscle strength is decreased, and they (muscles) require more effort to move. This generally leads to a sensation of heaviness in the affected area which may include all or a significant portion of your body.
Muscle fatigue is common to those who overtrain in the gym and/or some other intense physical fitness activity who do not take adequate time to recover between sessions. It is evident in many marathon participants and triathletes. It is not exercise exclusive, mind you, as those who perform strenuous movements at their place of work (construction, etc.) also experience whole-body muscle fatigue. Even new parents who lug around their tots and bundles of joy report feelings of over-density.
Physiotherapy is critical to alleviating that feeling of heaviness due to muscle fatigue. Interventions typically involve the prescription of therapist-guided warm-ups (movements and stretches), targeted exercises to strengthen affected muscles, and cool-down routines (movements and stretches). This is on top of initial in-clinic treatments like massage therapy, electrotherapy, and potential TCM based interventions such as acupuncture. Everything will be aimed at improving muscle endurance, optimizing activity pacing, and reducing fatigue while promoting recovery. Furthermore, a holistic physiotherapist will provide advice and insight into lifestyle factors like nutrition to manage muscle fatigue in a more sustainable manner.
Are you ready to get started? If located in the Greater Vancouver area you can schedule your first consultation at our conveniently located Burnaby BC clinic right away.
Feel Lighter and More Energetic Through Physiotherapy
(Burnaby and Vancouver residents)