Early spring is around the corner and you may be spending more time outside gardening, taking up new sports or increasing the frequency of your usual activities.
Whilst getting more active is absolutely a great lifestyle choice, we must advise you to take it easy! You could start to experience some muscle tension or even injury to tendons, ligaments or joints resulting from imbalances, tight connective tissue, postural and faulty loading issues. A great option for you if you start experiencing pain or tension could be deep tissue massage. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits.
Deep tissue massage and appropriate exercises/stretches may enhance your performance, aid recovery and prevent injury. All sorts of soft tissue problems can be caused by repetitive and strenuous activity or trauma.
When you feel tension in one part of the body, it will inevitably have an effect on other parts of the body increasing strain on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bone, and therefore causing a reduced range of motion in the joints and less flexibility.
If this tension is not released, then memory may develop in the muscles. The sooner this is treated the easier it is to correct and may help to stop the tension spreading to surrounding muscles possibly causing further problems. Compensation patterns can develop through injury, tension and time.
Weakness, tension or restricted fascia in one part of the body will likely have an effect on the body as a whole. The fascia is a thin, fibrous, web of connective tissue found throughout the body that provides support and protection for the body. For example, the neck has a correlation with the lower back. Tight hamstrings at the posterior of the legs will pull on the lower back and possibly and possibly cause discomfort. Tension in the arms can travel to the neck.
Deep tissue massage may benefit anyone who engages in physical activity for sport or to improve fitness, but also more sedentary people and those that spend long hours at a desk or computer. Also, mental stress invariably leads to muscle tension. Massage has both a physiological and psychological effect. People often experience an emotional release after a massage.
Many of the muscles in the body are layered and deep tissue massage may help to relax, lengthen and release holding patterns. Some muscles work in opposite pairs and others work together to perform a function or work in sequence with each other.
Poor posture is often habitual and puts constant demands on soft tissue creating unhealthy muscle tone. Consequently, making it hard for the body to sustain an upright position. Sitting or being static for long periods can cause stress to the body. Correct posture, on the other hand, helps maintain healthy muscle tone, improves balance and co-ordination. It also improves self-confidence, deeper breathing, better digestion and reduces the risk of joint problems. When a person is not in pain, they have better posture, more flexibility, and easy movement. Core strength, good foot biomechanical and lumbopelvic stability all contribute to good posture.
So, whatever you’re getting up to as the weather starts warming, take care and think about looking after your muscles. If you’re experiencing pain or tension, then the massage therapists and osteopaths here at SOC are here to help!