Are you feeling a little more stressed than normal? If so, you’re not alone. According to research from the American Psychiatry Association, nearly half of Americans say they are feeling more stressed in 2024 than they did last year. Concerns about the economy, the political climate and gun violence are some of the leading causes of stress among Americans, according to the research.
And while we think of stress as being something that is mentally taxing, we can’t overlook how physically draining stress can be. You may not realize it at the moment, but your body physically reacts to stressful situations and mindsets, and that can cause issues for your physical health. One of the best ways to manage the physical symptoms of stress and overcome its mental burden is by connecting with a physical therapist.
PT For Stress Relief
A physical therapist can be a wonderful resource for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, because trust us when we say that your body will be physically feeling the effects of this stress. Some ways that your physical body can be negatively impacted by stress include:
- Increased Muscle Tension – Our body naturally tenses up when we’re under stress, and if we’re burdened by this stress for an extended period, this tension can end up weakening our muscles or cause them to fatigue.
- Posture Problems – Due in part to this muscle tension and other physical changes we make when we’re stressed, our posture can suffer. This can increase your risk of neck or back pain.
- Headaches – Prolonged muscle tension in the neck or shoulder region can lead to the onset of what’s known as a tension headache.
- Sleep Issues – Stress and anxiety can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep, and we’ve detailed the importance of quality sleep many times on this blog. Sleep helps to regulate many important biological processes, and if you’re not getting great sleep because you’re stressed, the physical impact can become evident.
Overcoming Stress With Physical Therapy
Your physical therapist can help you manage stress in a number of different ways. For starters, they can work to combat any physical symptoms you’re experiencing as a result of prolonged stress. Exercises or a specific PT program can work to strengthen your spine so that you’re less likely to have poor posture, or they can work to relieve built up muscle tension in different areas of the body. Daily aches and pains that are tied to stress and muscle tension can usually be quickly resolved after just a few sessions with a physical therapist.
Your PT can also help you develop some healthy habits that aid in stress management and relief. Two important aspects to focus on are your diet and exercise habits. Exercise has been clinically proven to release stress-relieving hormones in your brain, and it can also take your mind off some of the stressors in your life while you are physically challenging your body. Stress and your diet can also be closely connected, as many people may “stress eat” to find a form of comfort when they are feeling overwhelmed. Regularly stress eating can lead to weight gain, which puts more stress on your joints and muscles and is associated with a number of other negative health issues. Your PT can educate you about your diet choices and how to reframe stress in your mind so that it is less of a burden. These mindfulness-based exercises target how the brain perceives stressful situations so that it doesn’t cause the body to physically react so aggressively to this stress.
If you’re feeling stressed, know that you are not alone and that there are allies out there who can help you overcome the mental and physical burden associated with stress and anxiety. Let us be a resource for you during stressful times so that you can get back to feeling like yourself again. For more information, or for help with a different physical issue, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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