12/16/2025
Recovery is not just about what happens during an appointment. It depends on whether the body has the physical capacity to adapt, repair, and tolerate load between visits.
Deconditioned tissues heal more slowly. Muscles, tendons, and joints that have not been regularly loaded lose strength, circulation, and resilience. When everyday activities exceed current capacity, symptoms persist or repeatedly flare.
Poor or inconsistent sleep reduces growth hormone release, impairs tissue repair, and increases pain sensitivity. Even modest sleep disruption can delay musculoskeletal recovery.
Chronic stress keeps the nervous system in a heightened state, increasing muscle tone, reducing circulation, and increasing inflammatory signaling. Healing requires periods of nervous system down-regulation.
Under-fueling or skipping meals limits the protein, micronutrients, and energy needed for collagen synthesis and tissue regeneration. Recovery is metabolically demanding.
Smoking or va**ng reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery, delays collagen production, and increases inflammation, all of which are linked to slower healing and a higher risk of persistent pain.
Low daily movement and prolonged sitting further contribute to deconditioning by reducing joint nutrition, tissue tolerance, and neuromuscular control. Movement is a primary driver of tissue adaptation.
Care approaches such as spinal care, soft tissue work, laser, or shockwave can help reduce pain, improve motion, and support tissue response. Sustainable recovery, however, depends on gradually rebuilding capacity through movement, load, and consistency.
Care provides the stimulus.
Conditioning determines the outcome.
Recovery is not about doing everything at once.
It is about rebuilding capacity safely and progressively.
