Tension Free
I'm still fighting a head cold that came on fairly quickly, probably sped up by the 80 minute massage I had yesterday. I had sniffles when I went in for it but this morning I had a full blown cold, with throat gunk and phlegm and everything. Mmmm, mmm. Tasty.
But after deciding to take a sick day and staying under the covers all morning, and drinking my weight in Orange Mango Peach juice and downing several tablets of airborne with water when I wasn't drinking juice or peeing, I started to feel a bit better. So I headed out to buy more juice and get a bit of fresh air. I stopped at Barnes and Nobles on my way home to check out their fairytale section. No luck in that department but as I was leaving, I saw a box on the clearance table that piqued my interest. In it were two small, grapefruit sized rubber balls. Like miniature versions of those big exercise balls for pilates and pregnant women. The label said "The Miracle Ball!". A hole in the front had a caption next to it saying "Touch The Miracle Ball!" so I did. It felt squishy but firm, if that makes any sense. The box claimed it was the remedy for lower back tension and pain. Even an 80 minute massage has never been able to completely eliminate the tension in my lower back. It was on sale, so I thought "what the hell" and bought it.
I spent 30 minutes on the elliptical tonight followed by 30 minutes doing some of the basic exercises on these balls. The exercises are described in a little booklet that came in the box with the balls.
And after 30 minutes, I'm feeling amazingly better. And there is physical proof to boot, so I know it's not all in my mind. Normally when I lie down on the floor on my back with my legs straight out, the arch in my lower back is so high that Bobbin could practically crawl through it. Ok, I'm exaggerating a tad. But it's big. Much bigger than before I got pregnant, for sure although it's always been relatively arched. It's always been where I store my tension. Tonight was no different. But then after 30 minutes using these balls, when I finished and stretched out on the floor, the arch was much smaller. And the tension was gone! And I could stretch like I could 4 years ago, and I wasn't feeling any lower back pain!
I sound like an infomercial, I know. But it's true. I think I know where the inch went when I last measured in at my doctor's at 5'7" (an inch shorter than about 4 years ago). Into my lower back arch. I may just be able to get that inch back if I keep this up :)
Comments
Lying on two tennis balls stuffed in sock is probably somewhat equivalent, and I have to say it is best low-tech remedy I have found for my neck and back. I can feel the spine ratcheting down and becoming less stiff as the muscles relax. Hurts like h.... but effective!
Posted by Debra on January 7, 2009 1:26 PM.