Saturday 21 March 2015

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter (Articles): Knee pain and dysfunction

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter (Articles): Knee pain and dysfunction: What are risk factors for knee pain? Biomechanics : The knee joint is a complicated in its operation and is used frequently throughout ...

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter (Articles): Remedial Massage and its huge benefits

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter (Articles): Remedial Massage and its huge benefits: Sports and Remedial Massage What is Remedial Massage? "Remedial" massage therapy, simply means using manual therapy technique...

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter (Articles): Kinesiology taping is definitely the buzzword at t...

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter (Articles): Kinesiology taping is definitely the buzzword at t...: Kinesiology taping is definitely the buzzword at the moment in the field of Sports Medicine. Many top professional teams in a wide variety o...

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter (Articles): FROZEN SHOULDER- benefits of massage and physical ...

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter (Articles): FROZEN SHOULDER- benefits of massage and physical ...: Benefits of Massage for Frozen Shoulder SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY EXETER  www.sportsmassagetherapyexeter.org.uk Massage therapy  is ve...

FROZEN SHOULDER- benefits of massage and physical therapy

Benefits of Massage for Frozen Shoulder

SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY EXETER 
www.sportsmassagetherapyexeter.org.uk
Massage therapy is very beneficial in treating frozen shoulder as it increases the blood circulation to the injured region and also reduces the formation of scar tissue. Regular massage should be done to reduce the muscle stiffness. The pain and stiffness usually gets relieved after several massage treatments.

Massage Techniques for Frozen Shoulder

There are various combinations of techniques done by a professional massage therapist, which provides relief from shoulder pain and helps in the "thawing" process or the recovery stage.

Deep Tissue Massage for Frozen Shoulder:

One of the common techniques used to treat frozen shoulder is deep-tissue massage. In this technique, the massage therapist applies constant pressure to the muscles in order to release the scar tissue or adhesions which may be causing the shoulder pain.
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of deep-tissue massage which involves deep pressure on certain regions of the body. These are called acupressure points and helps in controlling the energy flow ("Ki" in Japanese) across the body and thus results in decrease in pain. Deep-tissue massage techniques should not be done in case of acute shoulder pain, swelling or inflammation, as it may aggravate the condition.

Trigger Point Therapy for Frozen Shoulder:

Trigger point therapy is another massage technique which benefits the frozen shoulder. In this technique, steady pressure is applied on certain targeted points within the muscles. This helps in relieving the muscle spasms.

Swedish Massage for Frozen Shoulder:

Swedish massage does help with frozen shoulder. This involves long strokes and gentle kneading done to the surface muscle tissues to reduce tension and stress in the muscles.

Heat Therapy for Frozen Shoulder:

Heat therapy is also very helpful in treating the frozen shoulder. It can be applied before or after a massage. Heat therapy can be also done for trigger point massage for frozen shoulder. It helps in relaxing the muscles and decreasing pain. Mild heat can be applied for multiple times daily using pads which are heated an hour before application.

Frozen Shoulder (Shoulder Pain)

If you are experiencing shoulder pain it could be caused frozen shoulder. Find out how to recognise frozen shoulder symptoms and what the treatment options are with our useful guide.
Shoulder painFrozen shoulder syndrome occurs when ligaments around the shoulder joint swell and stiffen
If you're over 50, it's quite likely you know of someone who's had frozen shoulder – and that’s because, according to a survey,* 72% of patients are over the age of 50.
Frozen shoulder syndrome, or adhesive capsulitis as it’s medically termed, occurs when ligaments around the shoulder joint swell and stiffen to such an extent that normal healing doesn't take place. This makes it difficult to move the shoulder, making everyday activities such as getting dressed or reaching for a cup from a shelf painful. As the condition progresses, the stiffness may continue to the point where range of motion can be severely limited.
Research has shown that diabetes patients are more than twice as likely to suffer with condition, and other risk factors include recent surgery, having a stroke, overactive or underactive thyroid and heart disease.
If you suspect that you have frozen shoulder, Sports Massage Therapy Exeter may help. Tests would also be performed  to rule out shoulder arthritis via a series of screening tests, as it produces similar symptoms. With frozen shoulder the surfaces of your shoulder joint are normal and motion is limited because the tissues surrounding the joint have become tight, preventing you from moving your arm and shoulder as you usually would. With shoulder arthritis the joint surface is damaged.

Possible causes of frozen shoulder

Because frozen shoulder is a catch-all term, one person's symptoms and causes might be slightly different from another's, making it difficult to say what has caused the problem.
Frozen shoulder does, however, seem linked to certain activities. For example, any activity that involves you having to rotate your arm, such as freestyle swimming or throwing a ball overarm (for cricket, for example). Also, overhead weight lifting and sudden stress to the shoulder muscles via injury.
It's thought that frozen shoulder is caused by inflammation in the joint - this inflammation could arise after an injury but also as a side effect of other illnesses, such as diabetes, a known risk factor for frozen shoulder.

Early symptoms of frozen shoulder

  • A feeling of pain and tightness in the shoulder area.
  • A feeling of tightness especially when putting the arm up and back, as you would do it you were throwing a ball overarm.
  • Pain on the back of the wrist. (This specifically relates to frozen shoulder caused by subscapularis trigger points.)
  • As time goes on, the symptoms will worsen although the pain may be reduced.

Go to page two to find out how to treat frozen shoulder.

Saturday 14 March 2015

Screening tests for knee pain

Sports Massage Therapy Exeter was trained by John Gibbons at Oxford University,
Here your see the screening tests performed to determine, weather the knee has a bio-mechanical problem or muscular based (soft-tissue dysfunction) 
I specialise in knees and very passionate about, knee problems.
info@sportsmassagetherapyexeter.org.uk
www.sportsmassagetherapyexeter.org.uk
07540705329
Exeter and Mid -Devon

Ankle sprains first 24 hrs

Ankle taping first aid aims to reduce the swelling by RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) as soon as possible. Cold therapy or ice should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every hour for the first 24 to 48 hours. Often pitch side therapists will bind the ankle tightly in a compression bandage as soon as the injury has occurred to restrict swelling, although this must be done with caution for only 10 minutes at a time to prevent starving the area of blood resulting in further injury.Following the initial acute stage of a sprained ankle exercises should begin as soon as pain allows to maintain mobility and build strength and co-ordination or proprioception in the ankle. A full rehabilitation program should be undertaken which should include wobble board exercises. A sports injury specialist will assess the injury, make an accurate diagnosis and identify any complications. A doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication (e.g. ibuprofen) to help with pain and swelling.Swelling can be reduced by using compression devices or applying ankle wraps and taping techniques. Specialist cryotherapy devices which apply cold and compression automatically are used widely by professional sports teams. Ankle injury rehabilitation should begin on a remedial basis, with electrotherapy such as ultrasound and electro-stimulation treatment can reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Cross friction massage after the initial acute stage will help reduce scar tissue, also using a variety of soft-tissue massage techniques. This will compliment the rehabilitation process to gain full range of movement and overall strength to the ligaments and tendons that support the ankle, including compensation to the lower leg muscles and correct the gait cycle ( bio-mechanics).

Knee pain and dysfunction

What are risk factors for knee pain?

Biomechanics: The knee joint is a complicated in its operation and is used frequently throughout the day. Any change in the movement of the joint (leg-length difference, change in walking style due to back problems) can cause subtle changes and cause pain and injuries.
Excess weight: The stress on the knee joint is increased with excess weight. Obesity also increases the risk of osteoarthritis as the cartilage breaks down more rapidly.
Overuse during repetitive motions as are found during certain exercises (jogging, skiing) or work conditions (long periods of kneeling) can cause breakdown of cartilage and lead to pain.

When should people with knee pain call a health-care professional?

Any pain that does not respond to rest or disappears within a few days should be evaluated by a doctor. In addition, the following are symptoms and signs in the knee that a doctor should evaluate:
  • Swelling
  • Inability to bend
  • Deformity
  • Unable to walk or discomfort while walking
  • Or a qualified therapist