Well, hello again my Phoenix Arizona massage therapy enthusiasts Love is in the air (a little Valentines Day play on words there since this is being posted as my February blog).
Hopefully love for yourself and wellbeing. In my last blog I was discussing the pains of injury as I began my fitness journey, and it has been very rewarding looking into how amazing our bodies are. In my last post I mentioned an acute injury obtained while on a casual run in the Greater Phoenix area and as I was taking in the glory that is this beautiful state. I should reiterate that, even though I have experience with injury, injury rehab and trauma while serving as a Medic in the Military I cannot DIAGNOSE, or “treat” and medical dysfunction. If you are injured, hurt or otherwise not feeling well it is important that you seek medical attention through the appropriate channels whether emergency or through your primary care physician. If you do end up on my massage table in Phoenix, please ensure that you are cleared, and we can discuss any contraindications or concerns prior to your session.
With that out of the way, BOOM, ankle injury occurs inflammation happens, we use the PRICE (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) as supportive care and you move into the healing process. You can find some amazing resources to help break down this amazing process, but I wanted to discuss muscle guarding as it relates to the inflammatory process because at the point of injury, we discussed that the body sends several responses to provide its own protection and one of these mechanisms is muscle guarding. Simply put muscle guarding is a protective mechanism that accompanies inflammation and muscles near the injured tissue MAY tense up or contract in attempt to limit muscle movement and prevent further injury. The process involves the nervous system sending signals instructing them to contract, which can lead to stiffness and reduced flexibility. BEFORE this very natural protective mechanism puts you to sleep or you cling on to the negative outcomes of inflammation and muscle guarding just know
these mechanisms are your frenemy. My goal is to merely inform you on the mechanism, then lead into the benefits of… MASSAGE! Yes, I did it again, another shameless plug to drive home the benefits of massage therapy as it relates to yet another amazing aspect of our body.
Previously mentioned, motion is lotion and I want YOU to return to being the fully functional amazing human being that you can be. Where massage fits into this phase of the healing process, namely addressing the muscle guarding is by helping relax and release muscle tension including the muscle guarding I mentioned earlier. By reducing tension, increasing blood flow and supporting the much-needed oxygen and nutrients we can move towards flexibility and gain more of the natural range of motion. Of course, we will stay within the limits of your body and always strive towards the functional limitations. There are even additional modalities that support range of motion and muscle tension. If there are any questions specific to your needs feel free to add a consultation and we can lay out any goals you might have, if you find yourself in the Phoenix area needing a much-deserved massage.
Massage is an amazing tool and I want you to return to your intended activity and in the acute stages of tissue injury Massage can assist in reducing muscle tension and improving circulation. Another topic I have been overlooking is the overall stress that comes with this human experience and with taking the time to accomplish your goals it would be beneficial to even consider the overall wellness and stress reduction that comes included in your massage session. Along with the physical benefits of improved circulation and reducing muscle tension reduced stress can assist in supporting the parasympathetic, or rest and digest… among other phrases. There are also several modalities that work towards and even in sync well with this process and I hope you don’t feel like you need to receive a certain massage modality. We are the vessels that support YOUR amazing body and allow it to do what it does best. I appreciate each one of you and if there are any topics or suggestions feel free to reach out. Thanks again!
So, Attention Phoenix Arizona: Love Your Body Enough to Take Care of It with a Mobile Massage Therapy Session & Not Just on Valentines Day
Mike
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