Harpenden, Hertfordshire
0800 061 2558
+44 (0)1582 452 918
This article was first published on Gary Craig's weekly newsletter. As Gary has now withdrawn his website as of 5 June 2010, I am providing the same article below whilst I find another resource to publish it.
I was passing my friend Paul’s shop today when he called me in for some help. Paul is an enthusiastic cyclist and likes to compete. He’s in training at the moment for some races next year. Whilst training yesterday he strained his back. He was cycling in heavy winds and rain and had to push himself to keep going. He felt pain at an intensity level of 7 on a scale of 0 to 10, between his L3-4 vertebrae.
I decided to focus on physical aspects as there were other people around - I didn’t think it appropriate to go into personal stuff in that type of situation.
Even though I’ve got this 7 pain in my back… Even though I might have pushed myself too far… Even though I hate cycling in the wind and rain …
We got the pain down to a 3. Paul mentioned he might have been working himself too hard by going in the wrong gear on his bike. That gave me an idea.
Even though I might have put my back into the wrong gear whilst peddling… Even though my back needs help in being in the right gear, I’m fine with that and I ask it to change gears to be better.
After less than 10 minutes Paul’s pain was a barely felt ache - about an 0.5 in intensity. We’d not used any medicines just simple tapping and wordplay.
I suggested that it was sensible to keep the little ache and not go to zero so that his body could protect him from overdoing things; Paul’s water softener business requires him to lift heavy bags of salt on a daily basis. He thought this sensible, as he’s had serious back problems previously. We’re going to get together for some further sessions to work on those issues and improving sports performance.