Why Am I So Much Stiffer in the Mornings?

 We all know what imbibing is and the swelling and increased tension we feel the next morning, when we have been partying all night long.  Well, your discs in your spine do this every night!  I like to say they have been "partying all night long" without you!

 If you need a more scientific explanation then check out this article on the  Nutrition of the disc

Essentially your discs get their nutrition by a process called imbibation.  They absorb fluid from surrounding tissues and then extract the nutrients out of it.  This is due to the osmotic pressure of proteoglycans.  We normally don't feel this increased pressure and stiffness in the disc, but if you have degenerative changes or an injury in the disc you generally feel stiffer and may experience more pain in the morning.


It takes about 4 hours of normal life (i.e. moving around) for the discs to return to normal height.  You can test this on yourself by bending forward as far as you can, as in touching your toes, first thing in the morning and then again 4 hours later.  You should see a considerable increase in flexibility because your discs aren't under so much tension.

                                                                                                                                                           

So maybe those dead lifts you a trying to PR or the leg press machine should be reserved for later on in the day when your discs aren't under so much tension.  Actually any activity that involves prolonged bending of the spine, like gardening or mopping the floor or even slouching in the chair would be better later in the day.







This also explains why  we are all taller in the mornings. In fact, you can be up to 2% shorter at the end of the day. Hope this helps explain some of that morning stiffness and increased pain a little.

However, if you are under the age of 40 and you have stiffness in the morning that doesn't ease after 30 minutes, or isn't eased by resting, seek additional medical advice.  This might be indicative of an inflammatory spinal condition.

You know what I am going to say.  "Everyone Deserves a Good Mechanical Evaluation and Treatment Plan!"  Visit grimmpt.com or call 504-228-0524 to schedule your assessment today.