News&Articles

Title: Why does living in Japan make your lower back hurt? (Hint: It’s not the Futon 🛌)

Since moving to Japan, have you noticed a change in your body? Maybe your legs feel heavier at night, and your lower back is getting tight.

If you are from a "Car Culture" country (like the US or the countryside of Europe), this is completely normal.

In Japan, we walk. A LOT. 🚶‍♂️💨 Commuting here doesn't mean sitting in a car. It means stairs, train transfers, and walking to the office.

Before you know it, you’ve joined the "10,000 Steps a Day Club" without even trying!

You might think, "My legs are strong, I can handle walking." But here is what I see in my clinic every day:

Many expats come in with lower back pain, thinking they slept wrong (or blaming the Futon). But often, the root cause is actually their tight calves and hamstrings.

When your leg muscles get too tight from the sudden increase in walking, they pull on your pelvis and lower back structure. So, to fix your back, we first need to release your legs.

Stretching every night is your "New Normal" culture. Especially living in Japan, you need to maintain your engine (your legs)!

Living in Yokohama is fun—there is so much to explore. Don't let leg pain or back pain stop you from enjoying your life here.

If your legs feel like "concrete blocks," come and see us. 🧱➡️🪶 Let's reset your muscles and get you ready for another 10,000 steps tomorrow.