Massage And Myofascial Release
Massage is occasionally used by some physical therapists to help augment your rehab program. Benefits of massage in physical therapy may include:
- Improved soft tissue mobility
- Decreased muscle spasm
- Increased circulation and blood flow to tissues
Sometimes after an injury, you may develop tissue tightness or restrictions in muscles and fascia. These soft tissue restrictions can limit your range of motion and may cause pain. Your physical therapist may use various myofascial release and soft tissue mobilization techniques to free these restrictions to help you move better and feel better. Myofascial release with ISATM may be one way your PT treats these restrictions.
It should be noted that there is some debate in the PT and rehab profession as to whether soft tissue restrictions really cause pain or can even be accurately identified by your PT. Still, some PTs feel that they can find scar tissue and soft tissue restrictions and apply massage and myofascial techniques to help improve your motion and decrease your pain. And many patients confirm the benefits of myofascial release and massage as a treatment for their pain.
Dr Bergs Self Massage Tool
- Whole-Body Relaxation – Has a special tripod…
- Chiropractor-Developed – Developed to mimic Dr….
- Pain and Tension Relief – Relieve tension,…
Dr. Bergs self-massage tool, developed by a chiropractor to assist with pain relief, massages your muscles with firm knobs that allow you to apply pressure easily.
Similar to the CranioCradle, its shaped in a way that it releases trigger points when placed in certain positions.
Using the instructions provided, you can apply to critical points that can relieve stress and tension throughout your entire body.
Pros: Helps relieve chronic headaches, lower back pain, neck pain and other pains, designed to stimulate circulation and relieve tension in your spine to improve back health
Cons: Prone to slipping, can be difficult to find the right position for relief, requires you to apply your own pressure to knead and compress muscles
Body Back Buddy Self Massage Tool
- The Original Trigger Point Tool – Trigger points…
- 2 Hooks Are Better Than 1- The 2 hooks and 11…
- Full Body Pain Relief – Designed to be the only…
Massage sticks are versatile myofascial release tools for self-massage.
Most of them have knobs that are designed to help you reach hard-to-reach trigger points on your back, neck and shoulders.
You can also use the length of the stick for myofascial release on larger muscle groups when you push it along the muscle the way a foam roller would roll.
Massage canes are typically shaped like an S with strategically placed handles along the design for you to get a good grip.
Multiple knobs and each end of the S can be used for myofascial release by pressing the knobs into tender areas on the body.
The Body Back Buddy is a one-of-a-kind S-shaped massage stick with 11 knobs.
Its shape is designed to access every trigger point in the body.
While it takes a lot of manoeuvring to achieve the correct positions for accessing the trigger points, it comes with instructional videos you can access online with your purchase.
Once you get over the initial learning curve, the Body Back Buddy can easily become your go-to tool when you have stiffness or pain, because it helps you accurately target hard to reach places with pressure you can control.
Plus, it lets you release more points at a time than you could with a small handheld tool.
Body Back Buddy and the Thera Cane are the market leaders when it comes to massage canes.
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Are You Interested In Trying Instrument
If you are interested in trying Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, the team at Pacific Health and Sports Therapy can help. At Pacific Health and Sports Therapy, we use high-quality stainless-steel tools and certified IASTM techniquesGraston and FAKTR to detect and effectively treat conditions that may affect the normal function of your soft tissues.
Our practitioners use metal instruments to break down the collagen cross-links in scar tissue but as well as to improve the rate and amount of blood flow at the treatment area. The techniques we use will also cause an increase in cellular activity to help improve your bodys natural healing process.
Bian Stone Gua Sha Massage Tool
- GUA SHA LONG AND HEAVY. 7 inches long Gua…
- 100% NATURAL BIAN STONE. Specialists say…
- HANDMADE SCRAPING MASSAGE TOOL. Thanks to…
This Gua Sha tool is made of natural Bian stone, which is softer than stainless steel and moves smoothly on skin.
Its a 7-inch one-size-fits-all tool, but its grip isnt particularly ergonomic because its two-dimensional.
Its a great tool for scraping to release the surface of fascia and quickly boost circulation.
However, theres no sphere or node for trigger-point release, so its not the most versatile tool on the list.
Another major problem is that its breakable when dropped, so its less durable than a metal tool.
Still, most users consider it a great value for the money.
Its smooth and can be used on the face, so if youre new to gua sha tools and IASTM, this is an affordable product you cant go wrong with.
Pros: Inexpensive, softer material than metal, smooth, non-irritating edges
Cons: Less comfortable to grip, breakable and less durable than metal, best for scraping but not trigger point release
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Learn To Treat And Heal Your Own Tennis Elbow Or Golfers Elbow At Home With This Video Program
Youll get instant access to a complete VIDEO program designed by a professional therapist to help you take charge and break your vicious cycle of pain and frustration!
Ill be your personal tutor guiding you through step-by-step video lessons, where youll get the therapy techniques, key stretches and essential exercises you need to treat and recover from your injury at home.
Just watch the videos, follow along and start putting an end to your elbow pain today!
Myofascial Releaser Ellipse Pro
- RELIEVE PAIN: The Ellipse Pro is ideal for…
- PREVENT INJURIES: Use the Ellipse Pro before…
- MOST VERSATILE IASTM TOOL: You wont need any…
The Myofascial Releaser Ellipse Pro is made of stainless steel and its used sometimes with cream or emollient to stroke the surface of a muscle and release the fascia.
This tool features three holes your fingers can use to grip the tool as you move it along your body.
Its made to model what masseuses hands attempt to do for small areas of muscle and connective tissue, but its able to do it better due to the thin edge and firm steel material.
It has a small knob at the end for digging into tissue like a massage head.
The product comes with a manual that instructs you through how to release different muscle groups using the tool, and you can access video tutorials online.
It also comes with a jar of emollient.
The main complaint users have with this tool is that its overpriced.
Others complain its too difficult to use as a self-myofascial release tool, and that it requires a professionals work.
On the other hand, those who do have experience say its a highly effective and versatile IASTM tool.
Pros: Comes with a guide and emollient, versatile for use throughout your body, includes online video tutorials
Cons: Expensive, may be difficult to use correctly without experience
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The Best Iastm Tool: Recommendations
- SAVE YOUR FINGERS: The ergonomic handle will help…
- YOUR PATIENTS WILL THANK YOU: Fascial adhesions…
- SUPER VERSATILITY: No need to buy whole sets of…
The Ergo Myofascial Release tool is top on our list, because it has a grip handle allowing you to hold the edge in your fist for perfect control and precision.
Compared to other IASTM tools, this one is a lot more comfortable.
Due to the solid build and its balanced weight, you dont have to apply much pressure to get tons of benefit from its various edges.
The small ball at the tip of the tool also makes it a winner for versatility because you can use the tool for scraping and trigger point therapy to mobilize soft tissue.
While the Ergo Myofascial Release tool is a great value for its versatility, durability and effectiveness, you can go a lot cheaper if youre just wanting to try something new.
The Bian Stone gua sha tool from LOGAIA is your best bet for something for around $20.
It has a smooth feel and perfect angles for scraping any soft tissue in your body.
What Is Myofascial Release
In its simplest form, myofascial release is the technical term for a form of massage therapy that is meant to make connective tissues looser and more flexible, this results in relieving tightness and pain in your muscles.
Repetitive motions or injuries can cause the fascia around your body to tighten up and cause knots or trigger points.
A large part of myofascial release includes targeting these trigger points and keeping steady pressure on them to help release them.
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The Theory Behind Graston: Its Science Based
Scar tissue is a type of fibrous connective tissue that receives less blood than normal tissue and stretches much less. It tends to be thick and may build up around the ligaments, tendons and muscles after an injury. The buildup of soft tissue is referred to as adhesions. Injuries that may result in adhesions include shin splints, pulled hamstrings, meniscal tears and much more. When an individual is injured, adhesions and scar tissue may occur either in the tissues or in the skin. It is believed that scar tissue and adhesions prevent the underneath body structures from moving properly. This is because the ligaments, tendons and muscles are unable to freely move. Its problematic because scar tissue and adhesions may bend to fascia and cause a condition known as fascial restriction. Adhesions and scar tissue can also occur on a smaller scale as a result of a cross-linking of muscle fibers. Over time, even the wear and tear of everyday life can cause muscle fibers to adhere to each other irregularly. With IASTM and the Graston technique, the treatment causes a muscle fiber separation, which releases pain and increases functional mobility.
Facts on the Graston Technique
Heres the skinny on the Graston technique. Its a technique that is embraced by many.
Potential Benefits Of Graston Therapy
Most of the back is comprised of muscles, fascia, ligaments, and tendons. Injuries to these soft tissues play a significant role in the pain and dysfunction associated with back problems. While it may not sound like a serious injury, a simple back muscle strain or torn ligament in the back can cause excruciating pain and difficulty with movement.
The Graston Technique offers several potential advantages to the patient with such an injury:
- Reducing the need for anti-inflammatory medication
- Resolving chronic conditions thought to be permanent
The treatment may be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
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Whats The Goal Of These Therapy Techniques
The objective is to break up areas of muscular, fascial or tendinous adhesion or scar tissue using these hand-held instruments, which can apply a uniform and often very firm, deep penetration in the tissue.
IASTM is performed with ergonomically designed instruments that detect and treat fascial restrictions, encourage rapid localization and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis, chronic inflammation, or degeneration.
Instruments effectively break down fascial restrictions and scar tissue. The ergonomic design of these instruments provides the clinician with the ability to locate restrictions and allows the clinician to treat the affected area with the appropriate amount of pressure.
The technique itself is said to be a modern evolution from Traditional Chinese Medicine called Gua Sha
PHYSIO-PEDIA Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation
In the image below, you can see an example of the technique being performed on a patients forearm to treat Tennis Elbow:
I absolutely agree that breaking up adhesions and scar tissue is fundamentally a KEY aspect in treating the underlying issue with Golfers and Tennis Elbow!
However, the big question, in my mind, is:
Are these techniques are the best way to achieve this essential goal?
Daddario Varigrip Adjustable Hand Exerciser
We tend to overlook grip strength as a mark of fitness opening stiff jars just isnt as impressive as having sculpted abs or big guns. In fact, hand strength is a useful proxy for overall physical health: large-scale studies have shown that people with stronger grips tend to remain healthier for longer in old age and have a lower risk of heart damage .
Athletes know that a strong grip is needed for everything from climbing to grappling to powerlifting. And for those with hand problems due to arthritis or injury, better grip strength can mean reduced pain and less risk of stretched ligaments.
This squeezable strengthener allows you to build strength from your fingertips to your wrist, and the tension can be adjusted for each finger individually ideal for surgery recovery. Its aimed at musicians, who need both strong hands and great dexterity.
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Best Intermediate: Gocheer Muscle Massage Gun
For athletes and exercise enthusiasts looking for a super versatile percussion massager, the Gocheers for you.
This model is a real standout as it has 20 different speeds catering to all of your massage needs. This massage gun supports between 1200 and 3180 beats per minute, so its easy to find the right vibration to suit the issue you have.
It comes with four different interchangeable heads: a U-shaped option for the neck and spine the bullet head for deep tissue massage, joints, and trigger points the round head for large muscle groups and the flathead for all parts of the body.
It uses a 2400mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery and can be used for up to 8 hours at a time on a single charge, which takes just 4 hours. Its also comfortable to hold and weighs only 2.2 lb.
Thanks to the latest technology in noise reduction, this is by far the quietest percussion massager on the market with a noise level of 35dB. Even when used at the maximum vibration amplitude, the noise level is incredibly low.
I also love the LCD touch screen, which shows how much battery is left and which gear and power level youre using.
One of the unique features, though, is the automatic timing function. This percussion massager has intelligent timing protection, which means that it automatically shuts off after 15 minutes of use. It does this to help users avoid excessive massaging and damaging muscles or bones.
Do Percussion Massagers Really Work
Percussive therapy is an effective way to improve and accelerate muscle fiber repair through quick bursts of pressure into the tissues. This, in turn, boosts blood flow, relieves pain and improves range of motion.
It is also known to enhance flexibility, relax thickened connective tissue, break down internal scar tissue and improve circulation in the lymphatic system.
This type of therapy is popular among some of the worlds top athletes, including Marcus Peters and Kyrie Irving.
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Best Advanced: Sonic Lx Rotating Massage Gun
If youre looking for a high-end option, the Sonic LX is a popular massager used by industry professionals, including therapists, chiropractors, and trainers.
This model has an impressive 2,000 mAh motor, which offers quick tension relief, 12 mm of amps for an intense deep tissue massage, and a range of percussion speeds, from 1800 to 3400 RPMs.
The battery runs for up to 4 hours on a single charge, so you can use it multiple times without having to worry about it failing you. It also comes in its protective case, which makes taking it on the go much more accessible.
Its also easy to use as you can monitor and adjust intensity quickly during sessions. Other features we love include the LED display, the brushless motor , the battery level light, and the portable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
With ten interchangeable massage heads, users can target different parts of their bodies and attend to their specific massage needs. Attachments include:
- Round, which helps improve recovery and reduces muscle soreness
- Spinal, which loosens back tissue and boosts flexibility
- Bullet, which targets problem areas and can ease muscle knots
- Flat, which simulates a deep tissue massage
- Dome, which relieves pain in tender or sensitive areas, and
- Shovel, which helps back muscles and areas around the spinal column
What Is The Graston Technique Used For
During an acute injury, the main goals of treatment with the Graston Technique are to decrease edema, pain, and to increase range of motion.
Examples of acute injuries that this technique is effective for include ankle pain, hip pain, injury recovery after a slip and fall accident, car accident neck pain, and tingling fingers and arm.
Chronic injuries that typically benefit from the Graston Technique are carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, tennis or golfers elbow, and lingering scar tissue. An injury that produces lasting companion injuries like a concussion shouldnt deter you, either. It is possible to receive this treatment even when other injuries are present.
When treated for a chronic injury, the goals of the Graston physical therapy treatment tend to shift based on need and progress.
In this case, practitioners use it to disrupt fibrotic tissue in order to increase range of motion and to decrease pain.
A Graston Technique treatment for pain varies according to the body part, the patients current healing process, and instrument selection.
If youre wondering, Is the Graston Technique painful for injury recovery? the answer to that lies in the side effects some patients can experience during or after treatment.
Potential reactions include the following.
- Discomfort or pain after Graston massage
- Bruising around the treatment area
- Spontaneous connective tissue release which occurs when scar tissue releases from healthy tissue.