| Deep tissue massage is very effective with chronic | | | | of these sessions. She would joke with the technicians |
| injuries, as well as releasing excess tension in the | | | | that I was beating her up, and yes, I was fairly |
| tissues. There are different forms and techniques, | | | | aggressive with my pressure at times, but that was |
| including trigger point therapy, Active Release (ART), | | | | what she needed. She also knew that it was |
| Graston, Rolfing, Neuromuscular technique (NMT) and | | | | necessary and kept coming back. |
| cross-fiber friction. | | | | At the last session we completed, she told me that her |
| In my opinion, massage combined with some form of | | | | shoulder was doing well enough now to swing a golf |
| stretching is more effective than either one on their | | | | club, for which she was very grateful. She could also |
| own. This comes from my own experiences, as well | | | | now place her hand on the steering wheel to drive. |
| as the opinions of others in this field. You get a | | | | Before this, she had to use her left hand to place her |
| synergistic effect that is stronger than either one on | | | | right hand on the wheel, as she had almost no |
| their own. | | | | movement with this arm. |
| Deep tissue massage is very effective for releasing | | | | Her range of motion had doubled after the treatments |
| scar tissue which is limiting your flexibility. It makes the | | | | and she had much more use of her arm. A few more |
| scar tissue more pliable, so you can move easier. | | | | treatments and some strengthening probably would |
| When injury occurs, scar tissue is laid down to protect | | | | have been good, but she was coming in from about |
| the injured area. What sometimes happens though, is | | | | an hour away and that was inconvenient. |
| the scar tissue spreads across healthy tissue, reducing | | | | Now I'm not suggesting that someone should skip |
| its ability to stretch. | | | | surgery and try massage instead. Its not always going |
| The goal with the massage is to limit this "spider-web" | | | | to turn out like this situation did. But if you have had |
| effect and limit the scar tissue growth to the damaged | | | | chronic problems and want to try a conservative |
| tissue. This is why stretching is sometimes applied with | | | | approach first, finding a skilled soft tissue therapist |
| the massage, to ensure that flexibility is maintained. | | | | might be a good idea. |
| I have used massage to help restore movement in | | | | While her shoulder was far from perfect afterwards, |
| many people. One of my favorite instances was with | | | | surgery and 3 months or so of painful rehab is no |
| an elderly woman who had torn her rotator cuff. This | | | | guarantee of success. While working in physical |
| 77 year old had injured her shoulder two years prior, | | | | therapy, I saw more than one person over 55, who |
| when she fell from a step-ladder, coming down from | | | | had limited results after their shoulder rehab. The |
| the attic. | | | | shoulder is a complicated joint with a fine balance |
| She chose not to have surgery because she had to | | | | between mobility and stability. |
| take care of her husband, who had Parkinson's | | | | Not all massage therapists do deep tissue work and |
| disease. She didn't want to be away from him while | | | | stretching, and not all are knowledgeable about dealing |
| going through a lengthy recovery process. So she | | | | with injuries. So I would suggest finding someone who |
| basically suffered with an arm that had limited use. | | | | does one of the techniques mentioned at the start of |
| I worked with her for about 10 half-hour sessions. I | | | | this article, but also getting an assessment from a |
| would start off with lighter strokes to warm the | | | | qualified healthcare professional first. |
| tissues, before using more pressure. Going with the | | | | In most cases, strengthening of the muscles |
| grain of the muscle fibers and against the grain | | | | afterwards is necessary to restore proper function. |
| (cross-fiber friction). Working all around the shoulder | | | | Joint mobility training can also help to restore |
| and shoulder blade, and then following with stretching | | | | movement awareness and efficiency. For more |
| techniques. | | | | information, see the article on joint mobility training. |
| She received chiropractic adjustments for about half | | | | |