Why Your Nerves Need Space, Movement, and Blood
Why Your Nerves Need Space, Movement, and Blood
Why Your Nerves Need Space, Movement, and Blood
Ever had that annoying feeling of numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or somewhere else? It’s not just some random quirk of your body—it’s your nerves trying to tell you something important. Healthy nerves need three things to stay pain-free and function well: space, movement, and a good blood supply. Without these, they start to throw a fit, and you feel the consequences, like chronic pain, numbness, or even tingling. Let’s break it down.
Ever had that annoying feeling of numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or somewhere else? It’s not just some random quirk of your body—it’s your nerves trying to tell you something important. Healthy nerves need three things to stay pain-free and function well: space, movement, and a good blood supply. Without these, they start to throw a fit, and you feel the consequences, like chronic pain, numbness, or even tingling. Let’s break it down.
Ever had that annoying feeling of numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or somewhere else? It’s not just some random quirk of your body—it’s your nerves trying to tell you something important. Healthy nerves need three things to stay pain-free and function well: space, movement, and a good blood supply. Without these, they start to throw a fit, and you feel the consequences, like chronic pain, numbness, or even tingling. Let’s break it down.
November 7, 2024
November 7, 2024
November 7, 2024
1. Space: Give Your Nerves Room to Breathe
Nerves run through your body like intricate wiring, and just like cables, they need room to work. If something is compressing your nerves—like tight muscles, certain postures, or even joint stiffness—they’re going to start screaming for help. Compression can lead to that numb, tingling sensation or even sharp pain that often brings people into physical therapy for relief.
So, what’s the solution? Keep things moving and give your body space to adjust. This often looks like stretching and moving into postures that you don’t typically rest in. Try incorporating breaks into your repetitive tasks and move around a bit to create space for your nerves. This simple change can help prevent chronic compression that leads to ongoing discomfort.
2. Movement: Nerves Like to Glide
Nerves aren’t static—they move and glide as you move. Think of them like rubber bands; they need to stretch and slide as your body does. If you’re sitting still for too long or restricting certain movements, those nerves can get stuck, leading to discomfort. This kind of restriction often contributes to chronic pain, which is why physical therapists emphasize mobility and flexibility.
Simple movements and stretches that target nerve mobility—like nerve glides—can keep things running smoothly. These exercises are designed to help your nerves move freely within their spaces, preventing sensations like pins and needles or numbness. They’re a key part of physical therapy practices focused on pain relief and prevention.
3. Blood: Fuel for Your Nerves
Just like every other part of your body, nerves need a good blood supply to function properly. When blood flow is restricted, nerves don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need, which can lead to pain, numbness, or tingling. Physical activity helps pump fresh, oxygenated blood through your system, nourishing your nerves and supporting optimal function.
This is another reason why staying active is crucial. When you’re stuck in one position too long, blood flow can become sluggish, which doesn’t do your nerves any favors. Regular movement keeps your circulation—and your nerves—in tip-top shape, supporting not only pain prevention but overall physical health.
What to Do if Your Nerves Are Acting Up
If you’re already dealing with nerve pain, numbness, or tingling, it’s time to get proactive. Stretching, strength training, and movement can all help, but sometimes nerves need a little extra care. That’s where I come in. At Mindful Motion Physical Therapy, we can help create a personalized plan to give your nerves the space, movement, and blood flow they need to function without pain.
Don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Reach out by email at info@mindfulmotionpt.org or call us at 773-609-4560, and let’s get those nerves back to their happy place!
1. Space: Give Your Nerves Room to Breathe
Nerves run through your body like intricate wiring, and just like cables, they need room to work. If something is compressing your nerves—like tight muscles, certain postures, or even joint stiffness—they’re going to start screaming for help. Compression can lead to that numb, tingling sensation or even sharp pain that often brings people into physical therapy for relief.
So, what’s the solution? Keep things moving and give your body space to adjust. This often looks like stretching and moving into postures that you don’t typically rest in. Try incorporating breaks into your repetitive tasks and move around a bit to create space for your nerves. This simple change can help prevent chronic compression that leads to ongoing discomfort.
2. Movement: Nerves Like to Glide
Nerves aren’t static—they move and glide as you move. Think of them like rubber bands; they need to stretch and slide as your body does. If you’re sitting still for too long or restricting certain movements, those nerves can get stuck, leading to discomfort. This kind of restriction often contributes to chronic pain, which is why physical therapists emphasize mobility and flexibility.
Simple movements and stretches that target nerve mobility—like nerve glides—can keep things running smoothly. These exercises are designed to help your nerves move freely within their spaces, preventing sensations like pins and needles or numbness. They’re a key part of physical therapy practices focused on pain relief and prevention.
3. Blood: Fuel for Your Nerves
Just like every other part of your body, nerves need a good blood supply to function properly. When blood flow is restricted, nerves don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need, which can lead to pain, numbness, or tingling. Physical activity helps pump fresh, oxygenated blood through your system, nourishing your nerves and supporting optimal function.
This is another reason why staying active is crucial. When you’re stuck in one position too long, blood flow can become sluggish, which doesn’t do your nerves any favors. Regular movement keeps your circulation—and your nerves—in tip-top shape, supporting not only pain prevention but overall physical health.
What to Do if Your Nerves Are Acting Up
If you’re already dealing with nerve pain, numbness, or tingling, it’s time to get proactive. Stretching, strength training, and movement can all help, but sometimes nerves need a little extra care. That’s where I come in. At Mindful Motion Physical Therapy, we can help create a personalized plan to give your nerves the space, movement, and blood flow they need to function without pain.
Don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Reach out by email at info@mindfulmotionpt.org or call us at 773-609-4560, and let’s get those nerves back to their happy place!
1. Space: Give Your Nerves Room to Breathe
Nerves run through your body like intricate wiring, and just like cables, they need room to work. If something is compressing your nerves—like tight muscles, certain postures, or even joint stiffness—they’re going to start screaming for help. Compression can lead to that numb, tingling sensation or even sharp pain that often brings people into physical therapy for relief.
So, what’s the solution? Keep things moving and give your body space to adjust. This often looks like stretching and moving into postures that you don’t typically rest in. Try incorporating breaks into your repetitive tasks and move around a bit to create space for your nerves. This simple change can help prevent chronic compression that leads to ongoing discomfort.
2. Movement: Nerves Like to Glide
Nerves aren’t static—they move and glide as you move. Think of them like rubber bands; they need to stretch and slide as your body does. If you’re sitting still for too long or restricting certain movements, those nerves can get stuck, leading to discomfort. This kind of restriction often contributes to chronic pain, which is why physical therapists emphasize mobility and flexibility.
Simple movements and stretches that target nerve mobility—like nerve glides—can keep things running smoothly. These exercises are designed to help your nerves move freely within their spaces, preventing sensations like pins and needles or numbness. They’re a key part of physical therapy practices focused on pain relief and prevention.
3. Blood: Fuel for Your Nerves
Just like every other part of your body, nerves need a good blood supply to function properly. When blood flow is restricted, nerves don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need, which can lead to pain, numbness, or tingling. Physical activity helps pump fresh, oxygenated blood through your system, nourishing your nerves and supporting optimal function.
This is another reason why staying active is crucial. When you’re stuck in one position too long, blood flow can become sluggish, which doesn’t do your nerves any favors. Regular movement keeps your circulation—and your nerves—in tip-top shape, supporting not only pain prevention but overall physical health.
What to Do if Your Nerves Are Acting Up
If you’re already dealing with nerve pain, numbness, or tingling, it’s time to get proactive. Stretching, strength training, and movement can all help, but sometimes nerves need a little extra care. That’s where I come in. At Mindful Motion Physical Therapy, we can help create a personalized plan to give your nerves the space, movement, and blood flow they need to function without pain.
Don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Reach out by email at info@mindfulmotionpt.org or call us at 773-609-4560, and let’s get those nerves back to their happy place!
- Chris Voirin, Physical Therapist and Founder of Mindful Motion Physical Therapy
- Chris Voirin, Physical Therapist and Founder of Mindful Motion Physical Therapy
- Chris Voirin, Physical Therapist and Founder of Mindful Motion Physical Therapy
our journal
our journal
our journal
More insights for you.
More insights for you.
More insights for you.
Explore more reflections, guidance, and practical tools to support your growth and well-being.
Explore more reflections, guidance, and practical tools to support your growth and well-being.
Explore more reflections, guidance, and practical tools to support your growth and well-being.
Find a clear path to returning to working out with this 4-step guide.
Find a clear path to returning to working out with this 4-step guide.
Find a clear path to returning to working out with this 4-step guide.
Pain, especially ongoing and chronic pain, can feel overwhelming and all-consuming, often pulling us into a cycle of physical discomfort, stress, and frustration. Mindfulness offers a way to break this cycle—not by eliminating pain entirely but by changing how we respond to it. By practicing mindfulness, we can reduce the intensity of pain, disrupt the chronic pain cycle, and develop greater ease with the discomfort that remains.
Pain, especially ongoing and chronic pain, can feel overwhelming and all-consuming, often pulling us into a cycle of physical discomfort, stress, and frustration. Mindfulness offers a way to break this cycle—not by eliminating pain entirely but by changing how we respond to it. By practicing mindfulness, we can reduce the intensity of pain, disrupt the chronic pain cycle, and develop greater ease with the discomfort that remains.
Pain, especially ongoing and chronic pain, can feel overwhelming and all-consuming, often pulling us into a cycle of physical discomfort, stress, and frustration. Mindfulness offers a way to break this cycle—not by eliminating pain entirely but by changing how we respond to it. By practicing mindfulness, we can reduce the intensity of pain, disrupt the chronic pain cycle, and develop greater ease with the discomfort that remains.
Your questions.
Answered.
Not sure what to expect? These answers might help you feel more confident as you begin.
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.
How is this different than other physical therapy practices?
We don’t just chase symptoms, we help you understand them and find the root cause. Most PT clinics will give you a list of exercises, send you home, and hope for the best. At Mindful Motion, we slow things down. We start by listening to your story, digging into the “why” behind your pain, and creating a plan that works for your life.
How is this different than other physical therapy practices?
We don’t just chase symptoms, we help you understand them and find the root cause. Most PT clinics will give you a list of exercises, send you home, and hope for the best. At Mindful Motion, we slow things down. We start by listening to your story, digging into the “why” behind your pain, and creating a plan that works for your life.
What can I expect from the first session?
What can I expect from the first session?
The first session is all about getting a thorough background, comprehensive analysis of your strength, flexibility, and mobility, and understanding your history with pain. You’ll talk with your PT about what brings you here, what's held you back in the past, and where you'd like to go.
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Yes. Whether you prefer meeting face-to-face or from the comfort of home, we offer flexible options to meet you where you are.
What treatment strategies do you employ?
What treatment strategies do you employ?
Some of the skills which we will discuss and develop are listed below.
Graded and meaningful progression into safe movement and exercise based on your initial evaluation.
Education on Pain Neuroscience and how our understanding of pain and our nervous system plays a large role in our experience of pain.
Developing Mindfulness Meditation skills as a tool to calm the nervous system, relate to your pain differently, create a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations to provide a fuller experience of daily life and deepen your presence.
Identifying and developing a plan surrounding your personal values which you would like to lead life by.
Other things which we will address are adequate sleep hygiene, appropriate aerobic exercise, working with acceptance of what is, and much more.
Why Mindfulness Meditation?
Why Mindfulness Meditation?
Depending on where you want to go in your therapy, Mindfulness Meditation can act as any number of things for you and your life. Let's start with some definitions.
Mindfulness is the purposeful ability to observe one's thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judgment, and to be fully present in the current moment
Meditation is the tool which we use to cultivate mindfulness in our daily lives.
Okay... so why mindfulness meditation for my recovery?
The implications of practicing Mindfulness Meditation with patience and persistence can be profound to your recovery from injury or pain. It can also have an impact to your contact to the present moment, your relationships to yourself and your thoughts, to your loved ones, and the world. You can learn to deal with stress, hardships, and the ups and downs of life with more equanimity.
We're taking your body to the gym by doing the exercises we prescribe. Why not also take your mind to the gym and help create lasting habits which can improve your quality of life.
Your questions.
Answered.
Not sure what to expect? These answers might help you feel more confident as you begin.
How is this different than other physical therapy practices?
We don’t just chase symptoms, we help you understand them and find the root cause. Most PT clinics will give you a list of exercises, send you home, and hope for the best. At Mindful Motion, we slow things down. We start by listening to your story, digging into the “why” behind your pain, and creating a plan that works for your life.
How is this different than other physical therapy practices?
We don’t just chase symptoms, we help you understand them and find the root cause. Most PT clinics will give you a list of exercises, send you home, and hope for the best. At Mindful Motion, we slow things down. We start by listening to your story, digging into the “why” behind your pain, and creating a plan that works for your life.
What can I expect from the first session?
What can I expect from the first session?
The first session is all about getting a thorough background, comprehensive analysis of your strength, flexibility, and mobility, and understanding your history with pain. You’ll talk with your PT about what brings you here, what's held you back in the past, and where you'd like to go.
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Yes. Whether you prefer meeting face-to-face or from the comfort of home, we offer flexible options to meet you where you are.
What treatment strategies do you employ?
What treatment strategies do you employ?
Some of the skills which we will discuss and develop are listed below.
Graded and meaningful progression into safe movement and exercise based on your initial evaluation.
Education on Pain Neuroscience and how our understanding of pain and our nervous system plays a large role in our experience of pain.
Developing Mindfulness Meditation skills as a tool to calm the nervous system, relate to your pain differently, create a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations to provide a fuller experience of daily life and deepen your presence.
Identifying and developing a plan surrounding your personal values which you would like to lead life by.
Other things which we will address are adequate sleep hygiene, appropriate aerobic exercise, working with acceptance of what is, and much more.
Why Mindfulness Meditation?
Why Mindfulness Meditation?
Depending on where you want to go in your therapy, Mindfulness Meditation can act as any number of things for you and your life. Let's start with some definitions.
Mindfulness is the purposeful ability to observe one's thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judgment, and to be fully present in the current moment
Meditation is the tool which we use to cultivate mindfulness in our daily lives.
Okay... so why mindfulness meditation for my recovery?
The implications of practicing Mindfulness Meditation with patience and persistence can be profound to your recovery from injury or pain. It can also have an impact to your contact to the present moment, your relationships to yourself and your thoughts, to your loved ones, and the world. You can learn to deal with stress, hardships, and the ups and downs of life with more equanimity.
We're taking your body to the gym by doing the exercises we prescribe. Why not also take your mind to the gym and help create lasting habits which can improve your quality of life.
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.
Your questions.
Answered.
Not sure what to expect? These answers might help you feel more confident as you begin.
Didn’t find your answer? Send us a message — we’ll respond with care and clarity.
How is this different than other physical therapy practices?
We don’t just chase symptoms, we help you understand them and find the root cause. Most PT clinics will give you a list of exercises, send you home, and hope for the best. At Mindful Motion, we slow things down. We start by listening to your story, digging into the “why” behind your pain, and creating a plan that works for your life.
How is this different than other physical therapy practices?
We don’t just chase symptoms, we help you understand them and find the root cause. Most PT clinics will give you a list of exercises, send you home, and hope for the best. At Mindful Motion, we slow things down. We start by listening to your story, digging into the “why” behind your pain, and creating a plan that works for your life.
What can I expect from the first session?
What can I expect from the first session?
The first session is all about getting a thorough background, comprehensive analysis of your strength, flexibility, and mobility, and understanding your history with pain. You’ll talk with your PT about what brings you here, what's held you back in the past, and where you'd like to go.
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Do you offer both online and in-person sessions?
Yes. Whether you prefer meeting face-to-face or from the comfort of home, we offer flexible options to meet you where you are.
What treatment strategies do you employ?
What treatment strategies do you employ?
Some of the skills which we will discuss and develop are listed below.
Graded and meaningful progression into safe movement and exercise based on your initial evaluation.
Education on Pain Neuroscience and how our understanding of pain and our nervous system plays a large role in our experience of pain.
Developing Mindfulness Meditation skills as a tool to calm the nervous system, relate to your pain differently, create a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations to provide a fuller experience of daily life and deepen your presence.
Identifying and developing a plan surrounding your personal values which you would like to lead life by.
Other things which we will address are adequate sleep hygiene, appropriate aerobic exercise, working with acceptance of what is, and much more.
Why Mindfulness Meditation?
Why Mindfulness Meditation?
Depending on where you want to go in your therapy, Mindfulness Meditation can act as any number of things for you and your life. Let's start with some definitions.
Mindfulness is the purposeful ability to observe one's thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judgment, and to be fully present in the current moment
Meditation is the tool which we use to cultivate mindfulness in our daily lives.
Okay... so why mindfulness meditation for my recovery?
The implications of practicing Mindfulness Meditation with patience and persistence can be profound to your recovery from injury or pain. It can also have an impact to your contact to the present moment, your relationships to yourself and your thoughts, to your loved ones, and the world. You can learn to deal with stress, hardships, and the ups and downs of life with more equanimity.
We're taking your body to the gym by doing the exercises we prescribe. Why not also take your mind to the gym and help create lasting habits which can improve your quality of life.