Posts Tagged ‘Sports’

Physical Therapy Treatment for Sports Injuries

June 4th, 2011

Sports injuries affect a number of athletes, both men and women alike. Pain is involved in all injuries that occur while playing games. Studies at the U.S Naval Academy have revealed that sports injuries most commonly occur due to repetitive and excessive use of muscles and bones.

An athlete who is suffering from a sports injury can be effectively treated using physical therapy, one of the effective methods that facilitate speedy recovery and helps athletes to quickly return to sports. Activities like football, baseball, tennis, swimming, and weight training are likely to cause injuries. With physical therapy, various sports injuries including rotator cuff tendonitis, shoulder injuries, jumping/cutting/landing injuries, running injuries, fractures, head injuries, neck injuries and tennis injuries can be treated.

Physical therapy is a hands-on treatment procedure used for treating musculoskeletal dysfunction. This effective treatment plan works well to maintain and enhance fitness, health and quality of life. The physical therapy treatment program makes the body strong and increases the blood flow to the affected areas. This is ideal to promote your healing process.

Physical therapy treatment for sport injuries includes a variety of modalities such as hot packs, cold packs, electrical stimulation and ultrasound to heal the injured tissue. In addition, medical massage is incorporated in the physical therapy treatment plan to increase overall circulation and achieve the best possible health. In a healthy lifestyle, the physical therapy treatment administered for sports injuries helps to

•    Decrease pain
•    Increase function by restoring your physical abilities
•    Prevent further injuries

The physical therapists who know to manage pain through physical therapy sessions will treat the patients for about 30 minutes. Depending on the severity of the injury, the physical therapy treatment program varies.

Physical therapy treatment for sports injuries is the best option for athletes who wish to return to their normal sports activities soon. Physical therapists can also give tips on preventing further injuries.

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Your Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) Should Know the Contraindications of Sports Massage Therapy

March 23rd, 2011

People who love sports or who seriously work out have grown to rely on sports massage therapy. It has been proven to be beneficial as a preparatory therapy for sports training, sports competition and fitness training. It has also been shown to be effective as a post-competition or post work out therapy, ensuring quicker recovery from fatigue and providing support for the treatment of any injuries. There are also cases when existing medical conditions of the person contraindicate sports massage therapy, though. Ignoring such contraindications may cause further injury or even death.  This is why you should trust only a licensed massage therapist or LMT for your sports massage therapy. A licensed massage therapist should know all about the contraindications to sports massage therapy.

Sports massage therapy may worsen bleeding. People with open wounds should wait until the wounds have healed and closed completely with scars. People with muscle or tendon ruptures should wait at least three days for them to heal and for bleeding within the muscles and tendons to stop.

Following the same logic, people suffering from any of several bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, should stay away from sports massage therapy because any bruising of tissues may initiate bleeding which will then be unstoppable.

People with contusions will also be having bleeding within the muscles. Undergoing sports massage therapy may cause them to develop myositis ossificans which is the growth of bone within the muscles. People who already have existing conditions of myositis ossificans should likewise avoid sports massage therapy which will worsen it.

Sports massage therapy will also cause more damage to people suffering from broken bones, burns of chilblains, rheumatoid arthritis and gout, or who have artificial blood vessels that had been implanted through surgery.

Bursitis or the inflammation of the sack of fluid between the tendons and bones of the joints will be aggravated by sports massage therapy.

People with periostitis have an inflammation in the sheath that surrounds the bone. The bone should not be touched and, therefore, sports massage therapy should be avoided.

People with thrombosis have a blood clot in their vein, often located in the area of the calf and felt as a deep muscle soreness. This soreness should never be treated through sports massage therapy, though, because the massage may dislodge the clot and cause it to travel along the vein. If the blood clot reaches the heart, it could cause great damage and even lead to death.

People with tumors or who suspect having a tumor should also stay away from sports massage therapy since any tumor should never be massaged. A tumor may seem just like a knot in the muscle and until you are very sure about what it is exactly, you should not take any risks.

People who have any sort of bacterial, viral or fungal infection affecting the skin should not undergo sports massage therapy because it could actually cause the infection to spread even more.

Aside from all these conditions, any other suspicious physical condition you may have that has not undergone proper medical assessment and diagnosis is cause for concern. Make sure you get it checked by the appropriate medical specialists before even considering sports massage therapy.

Your licensed massage therapist or LMT will be very knowledgeable on all the aforementioned contraindications to sports massage therapy and you will be in safe hands. Furthermore, a licensed massage therapist or LMT will also have the necessary expertise for acupressure massage therapy, shiatsu massage therapy, reflexology massage therapy, craniosacral massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy, should you need any of these. A caring licensed massage therapist or LMT even does insurance billing for people in auto accidents after treating them. Now that’s service with a heart.

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Improve Performance With Sports Massage Therapy In 4Th Street Downtown St. Petersburg And Tampa 33607

January 15th, 2011

Athletes attest to the fact that sports massage therapy improves their performance in their chosen sport while bringing a host of other health benefits, as well. For many years now, sports massage therapy has been recognized as an important part of almost all types of sports training. The Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA), for example, trains massage therapists in the setting up of accredited sports massage teams for state athletic events. Any athlete or sports enthusiast can avail of sports massage therapy from any reputable professional massage therapy clinic in St. Pete. These massage therapy clinics also offer Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in 4th Street Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa 33607.

Scientific research has shown that sports massage therapy can help prevent injury, increase flexibility, improve endurance, delay the onset of fatigue and hasten recovery of athletes. When used in preparation and training before athletic events, sports massage therapy enables athletes to give peak performance in competition. Afterwards, sports massage therapy helps them recover from fatigue and heal faster in case of injury.

Massage Envy online magazine’s Fall 2009 issue tells the experience of Ryan De Rosa, a 17 year old baseball player who plays for both his high school team and a separate travelling team, and has been chosen by two national teams, as well. The gifted young athlete plays as pitcher, infield and outfield, showing best form in throwing, batting and catching.

De Rosa started his sports massage therapy two years ago after feeling a lot of physical discomfort from his sport. He says, “I felt a lot of shoulder pain. I had some issues with my throwing arm. My legs were sore, and I was having problems with my knees and hips.” It was then that he met his massage therapist from Massage Envy who immediately gave him some relief. From that moment on, De Rosa never stopped having regular sports massage therapy.

De Rosa points out that sports massage therapy has done much more for him than just pain relief. “What I really like about having Jon is that in the past two years, he’s not only helped my problems physically. I’ve also learned so much about my body. And he’ll tell me about the things I can do before and after games and during the week to strengthen and help stretch those muscles out.” He adds, “It relaxes me physically and mentally. My best pitching performances come the day after a massage – without a doubt.”

In fact, the young athlete now considers sports massage therapy indispensable in his training. “My massage therapist, Jon, has been my secret weapon. I couldn’t imagine not having massage as part of my plan.” De Rosa never misses his weekly sports massage therapy sessions.

Any athlete or sports enthusiast can gain the same benefits from sports massage therapy. They should remember, though, to let the professional massage therapist know what particular sport they are involved in so that the massage therapy can be customized to the specific needs of that sport. They should also tell the massage therapist of any body parts that are giving them trouble so that these problems can be addressed properly.

Athletes need not confine themselves to sports massage therapy, though. They should also try Swedish massage therapy and deep tissue massage therapy. When female athletes get pregnant they should continue with their massage therapy regimen through pregnancy massage therapy. With a well rounded massage therapy experience athletes will not only improve their performance in their sport but also improve their overall health and well being for optimum performance in life. Professional massage therapy clinics in 4th Street Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa 33607 can make this possible.

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The Power of Sports Massage Therapy in Therapeutic Massage Spas in Blaine, Anoka County, Minneapolis, St Paul MN

December 31st, 2010

It has long been acknowledged in the world of sports and fitness that sports massage therapy is not only effective but crucial for the well being of athletes and other sports and fitness buffs. What many may not know is that the power of sports massage therapy may be rooted in the fact that it was first developed for horses by Jack Meagher who is known not only as the father of human sports massage therapy but also the father of equine sports massage therapy. Today, anyone can avail of sports massage therapy at therapeutic massage spas that also offer reflexology massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in Blaine, Anoka County, Minneapolis, St Paul MN.

Jack Meagher was born in 1924 in Gloucester. During World War II he became a medic and it was during this stint that he learned how to perform massage from a German prisoner of war. In the post war years he developed this skill with formal training at the Massachusetts School of Physical Therapy and the Columbia Institute in Philadelphia. Meagher, therefore, had ample training for massage for humans. In 1970, however, he had an opportunity to apply this knowledge on a horse when a friend brought him a lame quarter horse for treatment. That was the start of his career in equine massage.

Jack Meagher later went on to become the official masseur for the U. S. Olympic Equestrian Team. His responsibilities covered sports massage therapy for the riders and their horses. Soon his clientele began to expand with athletes from other sports. His sports massage therapy sessions were held at the YMCA.

The sports massage therapy developed by Meagher was described as a combination of Shiatsu and Swedish massage. The theory behind it is that all types of athletic movement in every sport can be boiled down to twelve basic body postures. Each sport, however, uses a specific combination of these postures. Each sport, therefore, uses muscles in specific ways that can be predicted. Meagher’s sports massage therapy uses this knowledge to be able to properly prepare the body for the type of sport it is engaged in. This way, the risk of injury is minimized while performance is maximized.

Meagher’s sports massage therapy is also psychologically beneficial to athletes. It raises endorphins, diminishes anxiety and gives a feeling of wellbeing that aids in confidence building. It also invigorates and increases levels of energy.

Sports massage therapy has the ability to stretch muscles and tissues beyond the capabilities of mere stretching exercises. Through sports massage therapy, muscles and tissues can be stretched both lengthwise and sideways. The fascia that binds the muscles can be stretched as well.

Sports massage therapy is also useful in helping muscles recover better and faster after each game or hard training. It restores elasticity and prevents tissues from hardening, even breaking down old scar tissue that had formed from old injuries and traumas. It also boosts oxygenation of muscles and tissues, improving nutritional absorption and flushing out waste products. It therefore helps in treating any sports injuries and in easing their pain.

Whether you engage actively in sports or you are what is commonly referred to as a weekend warrior in your fitness regimen, you can take full advantage of the many benefits of sports massage therapy in order to boost your performance to championship levels. Just make sure you get authentic sports massage therapy from a professionally trained massage therapist at a therapeutic massage spa that also provides the various other massage modalities such as reflexology massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in Blaine, Anoka County, Minneapolis, St Paul MN.

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