The new Elastoplast initiative, More Action – Less Pain, wants to get you moving. Because being more fit and active will help to reduce illness, injury and pain.
Co-founder and Chairman of the initiative, orthopaedic specialist Dr Gerd Müller, says: "No more excuses – start moving today!"
In collaboration with Dr Gerd Müller, orthopaedic specialist and head physician at Hamburg’s renowned Spine Center, Elastoplast has developed the More Action – Less Pain initiative not only to relieve pain in the short term, but also to get people to be more proactive about their fitness and relieve their pain long term. How? By exercising at an appropriate level.
The holistic approach of More Action – Less Pain takes today’s modern lifestyles into account. See our video section for a variety of tips and exercises tailored to desk-bound office workers.
Have you ever suffered a pain or immobility that has made everyday life not only tedious but almost impossible? Most people have to live through this experience at least once in their lives.
Whether it’s your back or neck, a knee or an elbow that are affected, whether wrist or ankle pain – they can be prevented. And none need drag on or be taken as fatal blows or long-term disabilities if you know what to do and are proactive.
As an expert in pain treatment, Elastoplast has risen to the challenge.
Together with renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Gerd Müller, co-founder of Hamburg’s renowned Spine Center, we have begun the More Action - Less Pain initiative, based on the concept of graded fitness.
Our goal – to make you fit (again) for everyday life!
When we are inactive or rest for long periods of time, we lose muscle tone and our bodies become unfit. Actually, it hurts when you start using your muscles again – a bit like taking a leg out of a cast, when the leg might be swollen and every movement is something you have to get used to again. But activity will soon take care of this!
Being inactive for too long or not working out is never a good idea, even in cases of back pain.
Graded activity means starting where someone is at in terms of fitness and increasing over time. A fitness routine based on graded activity is all about avoiding extremes, which is key for both avoiders (couch potatoes who stay away from exercise) and those who push themselves too hard while exercising. The concept of graded activity is therefore based on exercise sessions with a preset number of repetitions or amount of time, increasing slowly. This avoids the usual 'push-crash' cycle of over-exercising or not exercising at all due to concern about relapse or pain.
"It is important to know that there is no such thing as bad or harmful activity", says Dr Müller, "Unless you do too much of a good thing. This can only happen when people stretch their limits, over-exercise or do too much of a monotonous activity that will put unusual strain on a certain body part."
A misconception. Some people think that suffering from back pain will prevent them from being active and working out. In most cases, avoiding physical activity will only increase the pain and condition. Why? Because the body will react by decreasing muscle tissue and bone mass, which in turn will lead to more stiffness and soreness, which will only increase pain. Pain will likely occur if the capacity of your body is not sufficient to match the requirements of your everyday life or given task. Instead of avoiding the task, it is better to increase your abilities.
Therefore, the trick is to stay active whatever you do, and work on your fitness continually and gradually. (Yes, even if you have suffered an injury.) There are even psychological benefits: your body will also produce hormones that will reduce pain and lift your mood. “People who understand that there is a lot they can do for their own fitness and in order to prevent aches and strains will experience less pain”, says Dr Müller. “You are responsible for your own health, so be proactive about it.”
Also, don’t use a slight injury or impediment as an excuse for not exercising. This is very important – especially on a psychological level – as more activity will benefit you more than resting.
Some people tend to overestimate themselves and do too much. Once they experience pain, they see this as proof of their body not cooperating. They tend to lose interest in the activity. Those are the over-achievers. The avoiders are afraid that they will experience pain or that they might damage something in their bodies. Both set different priorities – but sooner or later the body will set the priorities straight... So the sooner you realise how important activity is, the better.
Run, go to the gym… Find the activity that's right for you and that suits your daily routine. This might mean a few trials... Challenge yourself! Sometimes it’s about doing something that might not be your strength. You need to balance out your weaknesses, which can sometimes be frustrating, but will pay off in the end.
Build up gradually and increase your level slowly…with an emphasis on 'increase' for avoiders and 'slowly' for achievers. The intensity is key.
Also, work against your preferences: in addition to an activity that you like and that feels natural to you, you may also need to focus on your weaknesses rather than your strengths
There are things you can do in everyday life too to prevent muscle strains and soreness.
Please note that none of the tips above replace professional medical advice. Consult a health expert in case of an injury or if you suspect overuse of joints or a medical condition such as a fracture. A physician should be consulted in those acute cases when the condition is accompanied by reddening, swelling or hyperthermia of joints, ongoing joint trouble or severe pain and/or are associated with neurological symptoms (e.g. numbness, tingling, loss of motion).
For further information about Elastoplast products, please contact us at consumer.relations.uk@beiersdorf.com
Please read the instructions for use given in our product packaging with care.
Sports, working out, and practicing an active life style are the key to relieving muscle aches and avoiding pain in the long run, that's why we at Elastoplast, as experts in pain treatment, have launched our new initiative More Action - Less Pain, with the goal of making you fit for every day life.
