Consider that you just injured yourself or you have had issues going on for a while.

In this situation, people often ask themselves — and end up asking me — “Should I stretch or exercise if I’m injured?”

My question for you is, does stretching or exercising cause pain?

If the answer is yes, then you definitely shouldn’t do it.

If the answer is, “Well, I kind of try to bend and do it a little bit differently, so I don’t have pain,” the answer is that you still you shouldn’t do it.

Overall, if you feel any pain, stop stretching or exercising if you are injured.

The injury will change your movement patterns and biomechanics because your body is very intelligent. It’s going to try to do everything it can to not have you be in pain.

If that means you’re going to walk backwards or sideways or bent over, you will do that to be out of pain, and it’s all subconscious.

What we need to do is restore the proper functionality and biomechanics and movement of not only the spine, but of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments as well.

When we do that, then we can get you back to working out and stretching and it’ll have a positive effect and not a potential to injure you further or cause permanent damage.

Make sure you treat the problem before you start working on trying to stretch or exercise when the issue is still there.