Get rid of those disruptive aches and pains
(StatePoint)

It doesn't matter if you work at a desk, outdoors, in a truck or car or in your own home, chances are you've experienced pain at some point in your life. In fact, studies show more than 50 million Americans are affected by repetitive injuries, aches and pains, keeping many from participating in activities at work or at home.

Elaine Petrone was one of those sufferers. A serious dancer in college, she experienced a back injury that turned into a leg injury and eventually became so serious it ended her hopes of becoming a professional dancer.

Like many of us, Elaine turned to some of the dozens of therapies said to relieve chronic pain. She went from doctors to chiropractors to physical therapists to other professionals, with no results. Her right leg eventually shriveled to half its size, with doctors telling her she would never walk without a limp.

"This was unacceptable to me. I sought alternative solutions to my problem. While most doctors believed I needed to build up my strength, I realized it wasn't weakness in my body causing the pain, but the opposite. My muscles were overworked and their excess tension was the root of my chronic pain," says Petrone.

With so many expensive and potentially dangerous medications and costly alternatives out there, Petrone worked with different bodywork teachers to develop her own remedy that has nothing to do with medicine or high costs and all to do with real relief. The result is a self-administered approach to pain relief that involves getting your body to relax to break the cycle of pain, stress and anxiety.

Known as "ball therapy" and "non-movement," Petrone's approach is practiced with a 3.5 inch portable rubber ball and allows the body to relax and realign itself and eliminate pain. This new form of therapy, which rendered Petrone pain-free, is increasingly being adopted by physicians, physical therapists, yoga instructors and others looking to help those who suffer from chronic, nagging aches and pains.

"The point of non-movement is to undo our everyday stresses and strains that we put on our body," says Petrone. "The Portable Miracle Ball Method offers quick, targeted techniques that force you to stop working and allow your body to recover."

She originally developed the Miracle Ball Method, which is practiced with two balls rather than one portable ball. As a result of the enormous popularity of the first method, she created a portable method so individuals in pain can find relief anywhere, anytime.

Easy head and neck turns can reduce fatigue and post-operative pain and pain from accidents. By gently resting your wrist on a small ball you can alleviate pain associated with carpal tunnel and arthritis. And simply sitting down with the ball pressing on the right spot on your back can ease low back pain, frozen shoulders and rotator cuff pain.

Those who have practiced Petrone's technique are astonished to discover that just a few hours or days or weeks can ease years of suffering. A flight attendant from a major airline recently wrote to Petrone saying she used the program to undo the stresses of being on her feet all day. A painter told her that his carpal tunnel syndrome was much better after practicing this self-therapy.

"Feeling better doesn't have to involve lots of difficult exercises or costly treatments, it's really something each of us can do ourselves," says Petrone.

For more information on ways to reduce your own aches and pains, visit www.elainepetrone.com online or read "The Portable Miracle Ball Method," a new book Petrone has authored to help others suffering from pain.