So often I see clients with old injuries from high school or college sports, long-ago car accidents, falls, or surgery. It's not unusual for a 40 year old man to come limping into my office with an old football injury. They've learned that injuries not completely taken care of can come back to haunt you.
Injured muscles or tendons build up scar tissue, and continue to build scar tissue for years. This scarring can eventually limit the range of motion in the muscle and possibly joint. This means that you can lose flexibility. Flexibility is important to keep because it can prevent you from future injury. Injuring the muscle again can cause more scar tissue and more range of motion loss - a vicious circle, to be sure. This can cause the client to feel pain far away from the site of the actual injury. Also, the longer the pain or injury persists, the more likely compensentory pain can happen. Proper assessment is necessary.
Massage techniques that break up scar tissue and lengthen the muscles can help restore normal muscle tonicity and flexibility, allowing the joints freer movement of range. Massage can help break the cycle of chronic and pain and allow the client to get back to their normal life.
But, I am not talking about general relaxation or swedish massage. The massage needed to help you on your road to recovery requires specialized training in deep tissue massage. Many different massage modalities may be used for treatment. The modality chosen depends, of course, on the type of techniques your chosen massage therapist is skilled in.
It is important to check the training, qualifications, and experience of any massage therapist that you seek help from. Someone fresh out of school is not your best bet. Typically, newly licensed therapists have minimal clinical hours and have only had quick overviews of specialized deep tissue massage techniques.
Also, be aware of the "no pain, no gain" mentality of some therapists (and possibly yourself). Yes, if a massage therapist is addressing an injury - old or new - the client can expect a measured degree of discomfort. But, both you and the therapist must be aware not cross that fine line between discomfort and pain. Too aggressive work and applying too much pressure can cause the muscles to tighten up even more to try prevent further damage to itself - not the scenario you were hoping for.
Also, remember, different therapists work differently. Most massage therapists have a tendency to use a combination of different techniques with their clients. Massage is a science and an art. Clients' bodies are different and respond differently to various techniques, pressure, timing, and temperature. It's up to the therapist to "listen" to the muscles and determine what is needed at that precise time.
I, myself, believe that for a marked improvement in my clients, it is necessary to make my clients work on the table. I incorporate a lot of active/resistive, or strain/counterstrain, and active range of motion techniques with my clients. I also do a lot of stretching with my clients. Now, that is a generalized comment on my techniques. For example, there are times, of course, when myofascial work is the most a client can tolerate. It is extremely important for the therapist and client to openly communicate throughout the treatment in order to get the most benefit and the best results.
Massage Today magazine reported the results of a
Consumer Reports survey regarding alternative medicine. While 75% of respondents stated that they told their doctors about any alternative medicine usage, 25% of those doctors recommended alternative therapies - deep tissue massage therapy being the second top therapy being recommended. The report also stated that deep tissue massage therapy was the top alternative therapy sought for fibromyalgia and osteo arthritis and second only to chiropractic for neck and back pain.
So if you or a loved one is still suffering from chronic pain from an old injury, call your deep tissue massage therapist and book an appointment. Discuss the issues in depth and find a solution together. The sooner you can start resolving this problem, the sooner you can get back to your life.
