Therapeutic Massage Can Improve Your Physical Function and Mobility

If you’re an athlete, you’re well aware of the commitment required. It’s no secret that substantial training is required whether preparing for a major game, competition, concert, or marathon. As a result, you’re likely to hit a hurdle along the route owing to sore or stiff muscles.

Thankfully, therapeutic massage can assist. Massage therapy relieves discomfort and loosens tight areas, allowing you to recuperate faster and get back into the game.

Do you want to learn more about how therapeutic massage can improve your performance? GoodLife Physical Therapy can help you get on the right track. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

How do soft tissues work?

Your soft tissues work to make sure your body is functioning the way that it should. Because of this, it is important to make sure that your soft tissues are as strong and healthy as possible at all times.

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.

Our bones are then connected by tougher 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.”

Soft tissues help in mobilizing your joints and giving your body the strength it needs to perform tasks. Your soft tissues provide you with the ability to do many things but they can aso limit you from pushing yourself too far – even if that’s your intention! These can be damaged by certain stresses, especially those caused by repeated actions within the athletic activity.

For example, “tennis elbow” or “golfer’s elbow” are both colloquial terms used to describe tears in the tendons of the elbow. They got their name from the repeated swinging action that tennis players and golfer’s do, making it a common injury that they experience. A tear in the tendon such as this can lead to a significant amount of swelling and inflammation. Many athletes also experience sprains, which are caused by a ligament stretching farther than intended.

These 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 loosens up the muscles, and may even prevent some of these injuries from occurring.

How can therapeutic massage help athletic performance?

Therapeutic massage can benefit athletes both before and after training. There are different types of therapeutic massage that your physical therapist may recommend for your specific needs, 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.

One of the numerous advantages of therapeutic massage is that it speeds up the natural healing process of your tissues, allowing you to return to your sport sooner. It works to relax, loosen, and mobilize any trouble spots so you can go back to normal as soon as possible. This also reduces your chances of suffering an injury that would keep you out of the game for a long time.

Enhance your physical performance through therapeutic massage today!

Did you sustain an injury that you need fast relief from? Are you tired of dealing with random aches and pains that plague you day and night? Do you want to improve the health of your soft tissues? Are you looking to improve your performance?

If so, contact us as soon as possible to get started on one of our therapeutic massage treatment plans. We can get you back to the sport you love in no time!

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Is Your Posture Suffering? Physical Therapy Can Provide Improvements!

If you find yourself struggling to sit up straight on a daily basis, you most likely have an ongoing posture issue. It is common for back pain to develop as the result of poor posture. If your posture is not correct, it can cause stress on other parts of your body, resulting in pain, inflammation, or dysfunction. Fortunately, posture can be improved with the help of physical therapy.

According to a study, approximately 3% of all emergency room visits tend to be the result of back pain or injury. Back pain is the most commonly reported area of pain, which can cause significant limits to one’s daily life.

To learn more about how we can help improve your posture and relieve your back pain, contact GoodLife Physical Therapy today.

How did I develop poor posture?

When you hear the term “poor posture,” you might think of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but not every case is this severe! In fact, poor posture isn’t something to be ashamed of. Few people have ideal posture, and the majority of people engage in terrible posture behaviors in some form. We get so caught up in whatever task we’re working on that we neglect to pay attention to how our bodies are positioned.

Perhaps you’re working on a project at work, it’s late at night, you’re exhausted, and you’re slouched sideways in your desk chair, one eye on the computer and the other on the clock. This isn’t your regular position, but you’re getting into the most efficient position for typing up the rest of that file and then zooming out the door.

Poor posture isn’t due to laziness or apathy; rather, it generally has something to do with a physical weakness within our bodies. We slouch, slump, hunch, and droop over when we get feel drained because our bodies literally get tired of holding us up.

Even if you exercise regularly, you may have a few weak muscles that are contributing to poor posture that you are unaware of. Your posture is influenced by the muscles in your shoulders, back, belly, buttocks, and pelvic floor. Your core will be affected if even one of these is weak, and your posture may suffer as a result.

Why does my posture affect my back?

If you are suffering from persistent back pain, there is a good chance it is due to your posture. Poor posture is one of the most common causes of back pain. Do you slouch at your desk? Do you lean forward when you’re reading your emails? Do you hunch over your keyboard? These are all things that people do subconsciously, without even realizing the toll it takes on the body.

Your posture affects how your body moves throughout the day, whether you’re sitting, standing, walking, jogging or jumping. Your posture may change depending on what you’re doing; for example, your posture may be great when you’re standing, but when you sit at a desk or lie down, your body begins to hunch and fold in ways it’s not supposed to.

Physical therapy can help you sit up straight!

Your physical therapist will create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. This will concentrate on reducing discomfort, increasing strength, and improving posture as rapidly as feasible. Treatment strategies may include focusing on mobility, balance, flexibility, or stability, depending on the type of your problem.

Our physical therapists at GoodLife Physical Therapy are highly experienced and dedicated to helping patients relieve pain and improve their posture. When you arrive for your first appointment, your physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive exam to find out where your pain is originating and what the best treatments will be for relieving it.

Call us today for more information

Is your posture causing your back pain? Contact GoodLife Physical Therapy today to find out. We’ll provide you with the treatment you need so you can get back to your pain-free life. Getting better doesn’t have to take years or even months, and fixing your posture can be quite easy when you’re guided by a skilled physical therapist. What are you waiting for? Schedule an appointment today!

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Live Your Life to the Fullest with Physical Therapy Treatments

WebMD states, “Physical therapy is often one of the best choices you can make when you have long-term pain (also called chronic pain) or an injury. It can make you stronger and help you move and feel better.” The mission of any physical therapist is to relieve pain while also increasing function and mobility.

Physical therapy can be used for any physical goal you may have, whether it’s recovering from an injury, returning to work or a sport, or simply improving your body’s strength and function. Physical therapy can help live a pain-free life, with the ability to comfortably perform all the activities you love. Contact us today to see how our services can benefit you and help you reach your goals!

Evidence supporting the success of physical therapy:

The American Physical Therapy Association states, “Studies have established the efficacy of physical therapy in treating and reducing pain, as well as preventing chronic pain.” Some statistics supported in these studies include:

  • Success for pre- and post-surgical rehab. A review of 35 randomized controlled studies with a total of nearly 3,000 patients found that in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, preoperative exercise and education led to significant reductions in pain, shorter lengths of postoperative care, and improvements in function.
  • Success for arthritis. Studies have shown that therapeutic exercise programs can reduce pain and improve physical function among individuals with hip and knee osteoarthritis.
  • Success for low back pain. A review of more than 60 randomized controlled trials evaluating exercise therapy for adults with low back pain found that such treatment can decrease pain, improve function, and help people return to work. The American College of Physicians states that “non-pharmacologic interventions are considered first-line options in patients with chronic low back pain because fewer harms are associated with these types of therapies than with pharmacologic options.

How does physical therapy treat pain?

During a physical therapy session, you may engage in pain-relief exercises and stretches, strengthening exercises, or low-impact aerobic training. Pain relief exercises are designed to target the areas where you have pain and ease your symptoms, while stretching exercises help your muscles loosen up and relax. Low-impact exercises are easy on the joints and they help to increase your heart rate. You might be asked to use a stationary bike or to walk fast on a course around the building. You’ll likely be given exercises to work on your core muscles. Using your own body weight with pushups and lunges may be part of the treatment plan, as well.

Physical therapists also frequently use other modalities, in order to achieve pain relief and increased function for the patient. Some common examples of PT modalities include:

  • Massage therapy. Massage therapy may also be performed, which is a gentle therapy that helps in reducing muscle spasms and allowing your body to relax.
  • Soft tissue mobilization. Soft-tissue mobilization is also common, which is used to increase mobility by addressing fibrous areas of muscle tissue.
  • Direct manipulation. Direct manipulation of the joints can be done to improve functioning and maintain proper alignment.
  • Ice and heat therapies. Ice and heat packs may be applied to the affected area to reduce pain and inflammation.
  • Ultrasound. Ultrasound therapy sends sound waves to the affected area and blocks pain messages that are sent to the brain.
  • Electric stimulation. Electric stimulation therapy sends an electric current to the affected area, in order to reduce pain.

A physical therapist may also educate you about sensory re-education for chronic pain. Even after an injury has healed, the nervous system may still send pain signals. Sensory re-education helps desensitize the nervous system and decrease sensitivity to the affected area.

Get started today:

Physical therapy is a natural, safe, and non-invasive way to treat pain and strengthen the body. In many cases, it has even eliminated the need for harmful pain-management drugs or lengthy surgical procedures. At your initial appointment, your physical therapist will perform a comprehensive physical evaluation, in order to determine where your pain is originating and discuss the best treatment plan for your needs. From there, your physical therapist will design a personalized treatment plan specifically for you.

If you’ve been suffering from pain or a lack of function that’s limiting your life, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’ll help you get started on the right track toward living your life to the fullest!

Visit our clinics in Orland Park, Homer Glen, or Crestwood, IL today!

Sources:

https://www.moveforwardpt.com/benefits/default.aspx

https://www.moveforwardpt.com/Resources/Detail/7-myths-about-physical-therapy