Welcome to my little corner of the internet. If you've ever read the Five Love Languages, you know what I mean when I say my language is gifts. If you haven't read it, basically, the book says everyone feels love in slightly different ways: some people like verbal affection, others prefer touch, gifts, time or acts of service. When you have someone in your life who really understands your language, it makes everything feel just a bit better. A few years ago, I had a friend who intuitively knew my love language, and she was always surprising me with little gifts – my favourite was one afternoon when she "kidnapped" me and took me to get a massage. If you know someone who loves gifts, check out the ideas in my blog. I want to guide and help people who need ideas and inspiration. Enjoy reading.
Massages and Other Personal Treats as Gifts
Four massage techniques that may be used by a physiotherapist
Noa Hubert
Physiotherapists use a range of treatments such as exercise and education. They may also use massage to help with your joints and muscles. This is very different from a traditional massage which is intended for relaxation. Here are some of the massage techniques that your physiotherapist may use.
Active release technique
This technique is often shortened to ART. It is intended to release the tension in your muscles or tendons that may be causing trouble. The therapist will begin by locating the affected areas in your body that are too tense. They will then use a targeted manipulation of these areas to relieve the tension and loosen any scar tissue. This technique should result in considerable relief from pain and discomfort and will leave you feeling much more flexible and mobile. It will also prevent future problems in the same areas.
Soft tissue massage
This technique involves putting physical pressure on your muscles or tendons. The aim is to break up any adhesions or knotted muscles. The therapist will do this by pressing down on the problem areas. The amount of pressure and depth of the massage will depend on the problem with the muscle or tendon itself. A soft tissue massage should release the knotted muscles and leave you feeling much more flexible and with properly working muscles.
Trigger point release
Trigger points are specific areas of the body that are causing pain. The therapist will release the tension by applying indirect pressure to the trigger point. They will probably use their thumb to do this, although they may also use a special tool. This pressure should help the muscles in the surrounding area to relax, which will greatly reduce the pain that the trigger point is causing.
Myofascial release
Finally, the therapist will use myofascial release on muscles that are stiff and causing discomfort or pain. This technique places pressure on the muscle in a slow and prolonged manner. This will relax and loosen up the problem muscles and allow any tight muscles to align themselves properly. You should feel a lot less stiffness in your muscles after this kind of treatment.
Your therapist may use other techniques according to the specific problem and area of your body they are treating. If you are unsure of what they are doing, feel free to ask. If you know exactly what the problem is and how it is being treated, you will feel much more relaxed during the therapy and will have a much quicker recovery.
For more information about physiotherapy contact a local professional.
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