Have You Tried Therapeutic Massage?
Are you experiencing sore muscles as a result of playing a sport or performing a specific kind of job activity over and over? There is a good chance you may benefit from soft tissue mobilization! Soft tissue mobilization is commonly used in Jacksonville, NC athletes whose muscles may have experienced extended periods of overuse. It can be used to relax muscles, decrease swelling, decrease scar tissue adhesions and relieve pain and inflammation.
This treatment helps break up fibrous muscle tissue (myofascial adhesions), loosen any tight areas, move fluids trapped in soft tissues, and make recovery quicker and easier - so you can get back on track to accomplishing your end goal. Contact Synergy Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine today to figure out how therapeutic massage can help you!
Therapeutic massage for athletes
You know the amount of effort that it takes to be good at your sport if you are an athlete. The amount of training and planning is seemingly never-ending, whether you're practicing for a marathon, contest, recital, or big game.
You need to train your muscles and tissues to perform the proper ways you want them to, which can eventually contribute to discomfort and pain. This is a slight setback, but it doesn’t change the fact that it temporarily impedes your training process.
That’s where soft tissue mobilization comes in - it helps loosen up the muscles to alleviate pain and increase range of motion. This helps restructure the body so you can improve your physical performance and get back in the game!
Types of Soft Tissue Mobilization
Licensed physical therapists use a variety soft tissue mobilization techniques, including the ones listed below, to break down these adhesions and stimulate tissue regeneration.
- Strain-Counterstrain
- ASTYM
- Graston Technique and other Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) Interventions
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
- Manual Traction
- Muscle Energy Techniques (METs)
- Trigger Point Therapy / Myofascial Release
- Cross Friction
Soft tissue mobilization promotes tissue healing, so you can get back to your sport of choice as quickly as possible.
Our physical therapist may also recommend other types of soft tissue mobilization or massage to complement your physical therapy treatments, including:
- Swedish massage. This type of massage relaxes any stiff or tense muscles you may have, allowing for increased blood flow and fluid drainage from swollen areas.
- Myofascial release. This type of massage creates room for tissues that may be trapped by distortions or fascial adhesions, freeing them from constriction.
- Deep tissue massage. This type of massage loosens up your muscles and their connective tissues.
Soft tissue mobilization can be extremely beneficial for athletes, both before and after their training process.
Sports massage therapy can also be used before you even begin your rigorous exercise regimen, targeting the specific muscles and tissues that see the most use for your sport.
By working to mobilize, loosen, and relax these muscles before you train, you can help them stay limber throughout the process. This will decrease your risk of strains, sprains, and ruptures.
Why are soft tissues so important?
Soft tissues help in mobilizing your joints and give your body the strength it needs to perform tasks. Your soft tissues provide you with the ability to do many things; however, they also limit you from pushing yourself too far - even if that’s your intention.
Your muscles are made up of many small, thin fibers that contract on command, working together to mobilize your muscle groups.
These muscles are attached to your bones by connective tissues, called tendons, enabling them to move your body parts.
Your bones are then connected by tough bands of connective tissue, called ligaments, for added stability. Your ligaments are covered by yet another connective tissue called fascia. All of these connective tissues can be referred to as “soft tissues.”
These soft tissues can be damaged by certain stresses, especially those caused by the repeated actions within the athletic activity.
A tear in the tendon causes you to experience a significant amount of swelling and inflammation. Many athletes also experience sprains, which is caused by a ligament stretching farther than intended.
These injuries may occur in response to the intensity of your sport, but they can also occur if muscles simply are too tight before you begin one of your workouts.
Therapeutic massage can help with this, as it relaxes the muscles, and may even prevent some of these injuries from occurring in the first place!
Contact our clinic about therapeutic massage today!
It is important to help optimize the health and function of your soft tissues because they work hard to make sure your body is functioning correctly!
If you are in Jacksonville, NC looking for therapeutic massage services, request an appointment at Synergy Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine.
Our Jacksonville, NC physical therapists are happy to discuss our therapeutic massage methods with you and how they will benefit your physical performance. Your sport is important to you - we want to help get you back in the game!
