Live Laugh Learn

I was in a fantastic workshop this weekend, learning advanced trigger point therapy techniques.  The techniques included massage therapy, ischemic compression, heat and range of motion/stretching.  It was a great course, and I learned so much!  It was also the perfect weekend to be in class, as it was a stormy one!  Gusting winds and driving rain - I was sooo happy to be inside!

The class focussed on releasing trigger points in the upper body, including the arms and hands.  I can’t believe how many muscles in the head and neck can give problems with headaches, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and even nausea! 

I also realized how important it is to release trigger points in tendons and scar tissue!

Pain and dysfunciton associated with trigger points is also know as myofascial pain syndrome (it goes by many other names as well), and it affects millions of people every day.  

I just sent an article out to my email list on the topic, and if you would like to know a little bit more about trigger points, I have posted it on my other blog at http://www.simplehealthideas.blogspot.com. 

I had better run - need to get to work and try out the new techniques! 

I have started suffering the effects of computer overload!  My forearms and wrists have been a little achy lately, so I decided to practice what I preach and do a little self care, and you know what - it worked!  I used a tennis ball to massage my forearms (I put it on the table and rolled my forearms around on it) - there were some pretty good trigger points in there!  Then I used the elbow of my other arm to get a little deeper into the trigger points, and worked them out really well.  YEOW!  Did a little stretching, by flexing and extending at the wrist with my forearm straight, and finished off with a five minute ice massage to the entire area.  What a difference!  I am typing this post with fresh arms!

It always amazes me how long I will suffer before I actually stop and take a minute for some self massage, and it amazes me even more how quickly you can make a difference with just a little bit of self care! 

 The next time you are feeling sore and achy and you know it is from overuse, rub the area out yourself, stretch and mobilize it (move it through full range of motion), and do a quick ice to the area (5 to 10 minutes).  If you are going to ice it though, be sure to take an hour off before going back to the task which stressed it in the first place.  Icing leaves the area a little cooler for quite a while after, and you shouldn’t overwork cool muscle!  Good excuse to take a break and go for a walk!  (That’s what I did just before typing this post!  Now my dog is happy too!

I did the coolest thing the other day - I had two massage therapy treatments, each one week apart!  This might not sound so amazing, but until now I have only been having one a month, and my chronic shoulder pain feels better for a few days, and then just comes right back.  I know the pain is from trigger points in my rotator cuff, due to overuse at work.  Of course the monthly treatments relieve the pain, but then I just go back to abusing that shoulder, and whammo! 

 So I finally took some of my own advice (that if you can’t give up your muscle straining habits, then you need to get treatment for them more often).  And guess what - it worked!  Not only does the shoulder feel way better than it ever has, but I also experienced an accumulative effect of therapy - I was still more relaxed from the first treatment, so during the second treatment my massage therapist didn’t have to spend half the time calming down my protective spasming around the rotator cuff, she just got right in there and went to work!

Please don’t think I am telling you that it is OK to abuse your bodies and then just go get treatment for it - because I am not.  It is much better to avoid repetitive injuries in the first place.  I am sharing this because if you are suffering from chronic pain, and only get therapy once in a while, I urge you to try a few treatments close together - you will be amazed at the difference.

If you can then follow up with some self care - regular exercise and stretching, and do try to limit those repetitive and straining activities, your body might just stop screaming at you!