Muscle & Movement Part 2

Postural misalignment, over training, tissue trauma, and muscular imbalances, all can lead to adaptive muscle shortening and trigger points. The sarcomeres stay in a hyper contracted state and don’t return to their original resting length. The shortened muscles cause excessive tension which decreases the amount of blood flow, which can lead to reduced repair and range of motion. Overtime hypoxia can also take place and the constant chronic inflammation can lead to muscle fibrosis. This lead to all sorts of issues, from faulty movement patterns and altered biomechanics which can lead to injury, hinder performance and muscle dysfunction. This is why it is vital to treat muscles regularly as a prevention method. Fibrosis can lead to serve contracture and disability if shortened muscles and trigger points are not treated in time. So a maintenance program is necessary. 1. Is ischemia compression, via massage and foam rolling, you find the tender spots and put pressure on it for a minute a...

 I ntroduction If you’re like many exercisers out there, you may have a “problem area” that repeatedly gives you issues, annoyingly interrupting your training routine. This could be your lower back, your knee, your shoulder, your ankle…the list goes on and on. You’re not sure why, but the tension and pain subsides for a while, so you resume your training routine, and BAM, you’re in the middle of another flare-up before you know it. The worst part is that these types of injuries tend to get worse with each occurrence.  The reason behind these annoying repetitive injuries is termed the Cumulative Injury Cycle. It’s a vicious circle that reinforces itself with each repetition. If you fail to recognize the warning signs, you may eventually face a much more serious injury. The way to break the cycle is through corrective flexibility training, which you can work on yourself or enlist the help of a trainer, Myopractor, physician, or other professional. Read on to learn how the Cumula...

  Whether for sporting competition, work or generally for the maintenance of posture, everyone needs muscles that are strong, supple and in balance. Regular manipulation of the soft tissues has an important role to play, and Soft Tissue Release (STR) will transform any treatment, allowing specific problems to be rapidly and effectively addressed. This guide is a compact yet comprehensive source of information for the physical therapist to STR. The book is illustrated through a series of diagrams and photograph sequences to show the techniques involved. It is divided into eight parts, introducing STR and then going on to cover: the techniques; lower limb; trunk and neck; upper limb; pre and post event treatment; and self treatment. Foam rolling works in a similar manner.  Having been a passionate runner, author Mary Sanderson sustained a hip injury in 1992 which, despite seeing many physios, chiropractors and biomechanical specialists, blighted her running career. she then visi...