Tall People
I have had a number of tall clients seeking physiotherapy recently for back pain with associated pain in other joints like the knee as well as headaches. For many, it seems to be a persistent and long-standing pain that has not been corrected with previous therapy. Some have had the pain since high school. As we discussed the issue, a number of hypotheses have been put forward:
1) Being tall, their bones grew faster than soft tissues: the muscles (especially long muscles of the legs, such as hamstrings, calf muscles), tendons, connective tissue, and importantly, the coverings (dura) of the spinal cord and long nerves such as the sciatic nerve in the leg. This means that when they move, the restrictive tissues create resistance, limit mobility and lead to kinks and compensations in other parts of their bodies.
2) As a teenager, it is normal to want to blend in and feeling self-conscious, the person who towers over the rest may make it a habit to stoop down to the level of their peers. This habit of stooping down often carries over into later life just to be respectful and avoid hitting their head on low hanging areas.
3) Airplanes, chairs, bus seats, beds are not particularly designed for the tall person in mind. Tall people have had to be squeezed into tight corners fitted for the average adult height. This can cause stiffness, tightness and compression.
The solution – a whole lot of stretching, lengthening and posture correction. Stretching tight and restricted tissues will help to give needed space to structures that have been constricted for a long time. This may be counter-intuitive to the tall person but it can potentially make them feel a lot better, relieving pain and helping them feel at home in their bodies.
