The amount of people I speak to who don’t know massage can help shin splints increases daily. The amount of people I’ve helped with shin splints increases daily because of this too.
Ever wondered if Sports & Remedial Massage can help with an injury?
Shin splints – when the sheath of the muscles lining the shin stick to the bone it makes it harder for the muscles to glide properly. Often when the calf is also too tight pain refers to the front of the lower limb. By separating the muscles on the inside and outside of the tibia bone then releasing the calf muscle function can return. Downward dog may almost be craved to stretch the calves but stretching the front of the shin can be difficult.
Rotator cuff injuries – have seen a lot of rotator cuff problems from press ups done either in repetition or from excessive winging scapula. Massage to open can aid the short and the weak muscles so scapula setting can occur.
Muscle tears / strains – helps speed up recovery and allow tissue to realign. Trigger pointing the pain helps to diminish it. Depends on degree of strain.
Swelling / sprains – can greatly reduce swelling to enable ROM.
DOMS – delayed onset muscle soreness can be intercepted to not only diminish the tenderness but also to speed up elimination of lactic acid. Especially good for leg muscles as really quick to make quads feel fresh again.
Nerve entrapment – when muscles press on the nerves stopping the input along the neural pathway a lot of pain can be experienced. Sciatic symptoms (originating at L5 and running down front or back of the leg) and neck restrictions can be successfully treated by releasing the relevant muscles.
Plantar fasciitis – inflammation in the fascia on the bottom of the feet. Can be hard to walk, feet feel tight and ache (traditionally just above the heel). Caused by repetition (common in runners), carrying too much weight and often seen in flat feet (prevalent in Afro-Caribbean and Asian). Soft tissue work can help to stretch and reduce pain in the arch of the foot. Toes pose bending the toes back, dropping off a step or using a tennis ball to roll the plantar fascia can be really effective.
Achilles tendinitis – pain and tenderness around the Achilles can often be coming from restriction in the calf. Releasing off the deep calf muscles can lead to a major slackening off of the tendon below. Any stretching of the upper and lower calf muscles can benefit the Achilles in a straight and bent leg.
IT band syndrome (known as runners knee) – the IT band connects the knee to the hip running down the outside of the thigh. Tightness towards the insertion nearer the knee can cause pain under the knee cap when it gets pulled out of alignment. Runners and cyclist are prone to this. Notoriously hard to stretch so people try to foam roll under duress. Releasing the ITB can allow the knee to realign then strengthening the VMO on the inside of the knee can help centralise.
This is not a definitive list but goes to show how some problems you may have thought can only be solved by stretching and strengthening may warrant a more hands on approach…
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