Myofascial Release: A Solution for Sports Injuries

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Admin

Myofascial release is a form of physical therapy used to release tension in myofascial tissues. The myofascial tissues are the underlying connective tissues that act as levers and fulcrums when we move. Any tightness in these tissues restricts our body movement, which makes a human feel stiff, sore, and tight.

Breaking down the word myofascial, ‘Myo’ means muscular tissue, whereas ‘Fascia’ refers to the 3-dimensional connective tissue that connects and goes through every structure in the body from muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and cells down to the bones. As these tissues cover a wide range of areas, pressing these tissues is known to relieve pain from inflammation, pain, or scarring around these affected body parts.

How does myofascial release work?

Myofascial release is a massage therapy performed by professional chiropractors and physical therapists.

It is useful in the case of soft tissue injuries like back and shoulder pain, neck pain, ligament injuries, muscular pains, numbness, sprains and strains caused by repetitive motions (like throwing a baseball or basketball), sciatica, lower back pain, and more.

In simpler words, myofascial release works by massaging and pressing the trigger points around the stiff tissues. The medical practitioner will first press certain areas where the patient feels rigid. Once the areas affected are identified, the therapist begins pressing the trigger points to release the pressure. This process is repeated multiple times until the therapist believes the tension has been released.

A patient may be experiencing pain in a different area than where the therapist works with his fingers and palms. They focus on the trigger points that are actually responsible for releasing tightness for a broader set of muscles underlying them. In short, pressing trigger points of a body area is how myofascial release works.

How does Myofascial Release help in sports injuries?

No matter the nature of the sport, any sports injury that results in a soft tissue injury can be rectified using myofascial release. It has helped athletes and sportspeople add more swiftness to their actions and, at the same time, enhance their performance.

Myofascial release, when combined with an expertise of a physical therapist expert, also helps prevent sports injuries altogether.

People generally tend to avoid pain. This is one of the reasons they end up with chronic pain. Myofascial release can be performed on-field and can help relieve the injury then and there. Any delay would mean dealing with the pain for much longer.

Sports injuries are usually caused due to repeated strenuous action and through repeated high-impact movement required while swimming, golfing, tennis, baseball, and other sports. Swimming requires repeated muscular movements when diving and thereafter. Similarly, golf requires impactful movement of both hands and legs to aim a hole.

Any movement can get excessive at any time during the play. Remember how top-seed tennis player, Alexander Zverev, had to leave the finals against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros? The injury was caused mid-play due to an ankle and ligament tear. Though, his case was severe and required surgery to recover. It will not be wrong to say myofascial release would have helped him well on the way to his recovery thereafter.

Remember that it is beneficial only for soft tissue injuries and should not be performed when the patient:

Has been using blood thinners
Had surgery recently
Has an underlying tumor
Has open wounds
Has weak bones or has a broken bone
Has deep vein issues

Myofascial release is usually provided to patients with chronic pain. Contrary to popular belief, sports athletes suffer from chronic pain more than they are accounted for. According to research that studied the prevalence of back pain in 181 elite athletes from different sports like badminton, volleyball, tennis etc, it was found that “lifetime prevalence of back pain was 85%, the 12-month prevalence was 75%, the 3-month prevalence was 58%, and point prevalence was 38%; for the physically active control group, these prevalence were 81%, 70%, 59%, and 43%, respectively”. Thus, when provided at the right time, myofascial release can help a number of sports personalities recover and perform well.

Conclusion

Many sports personalities continually take pain medications to deal with chronic pain. These can be avoided through other ways of mitigating pain, one of these being myofascial release. To learn more about the procedure and to discover how we can help, contact us today.

Chiropractic Care for Back-to-School Stress

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Admin

Back-to-school season is bound to be stressful for many. Normal school-related stressors like having and making friends, handling coursework, and functioning on, what is often not enough sleep, is only compounded when added to Covid-related anxieties like wearing masks, social distancing from classmates, and the threat of quarantine.

Add all of that to the physical stress of carrying heavy backpacks, sitting in non-ergonomic chairs for hours at a time, and before/after-school sports activities, and you have a perfect, stressful storm. Over time, this stress can actually lower the immune response, making you more susceptible to illness and disease including Covid 19.

Chiropractic care can address both mental and physical stress associated with the start of a new school year. Not only can chiropractic treatments relieve uncomfortable physical symptoms like muscle tension and tightness and lower back and neck pain, it can induce feelings of relaxation and calm.

Fight or Flight

When stressed, the body initiates a protective physiological reaction known as the fight-or-flight response in which a rush of hormones and emotions flood the body in an effort to prepare it for necessary action. Some people are hypersensitive to this response and maintain high levels even after the actual triggering event has passed. This sustained state of heightened awareness can leave students and teachers alike not only with the physical manifestations of stress, such as stomach issues and headaches but also with a tendency to focus on the negative nature of the event.

In addition, these stressful situations result in muscles tensing and contracting, often to the point of constriction, and that can create enough pressure on bones, nerves, and organs to cause misalignments.

Chiropractic care is great at soothing the nervous system and reducing the effects of the fight-or-flight response. Massage therapy and other relaxation-related chiropractic treatments relieve muscle tension and activate the parasympathetic nervous system — the rest-and-repair response — to calm the mind and body.

When done regularly, these treatments can provide a mental reset.

Postural Stress

Heavy backpacks and constantly looking down at phones and other devices takes a toll on posture, as evidenced by all the students we see with rounded shoulders and heads jutting forward. Carrying stress in the neck and shoulder area, which is common, exacerbates this hunched-over posture resulting in the body being thrown off balance. The skeletal system compensates for lack of balance by adding pressure on the lower back. Over time, this unnatural postural position compresses the rib cage, which not only decreases the amount of oxygen going in and out but leads to skeletal misalignment.

For students involved in athletic training, the physical toll on alignment is even worse.

Chiropractic rib and spinal adjustments can relieve pressure, tension, and compression that impairs functionality and mobility. By making body and limb movements more natural, everything from daily activities to athletic performance is more comfortable. Ensuring proper alignment drastically improves nerve communication for better overall body function, including an increased immune response.

Chiropractic Care for Stress

Incorporating chiropractic care into your back-to-school routine can help you manage both mental and physical stress. Through proper body alignment, relaxation techniques, and foundational nutrition and supplementation support, optimal body functionality can be achieved for a healthier, more energetic, and less stressful school experience.

Call Dynamic Sports Medicine today to see how we can help you manage back-to-school stress.

That Pain In Your Neck Could Be Tech Neck

Posted on August 3, 2022 by Admin

Chiropractic Exercises that Help

While chiropractic is an age-old medical practice, it is an ideal solution for a painful, modern day problem: tech neck.

This is the name for the uniquely compromised posture that results from being hunched over some kind of screen or smart device all day. The combination of the chin jutting down and forward and the shoulders rounding over when using computers, tablets, and smart phones adds an extra 50 pounds of pressure to the bones and muscles of the neck and shoulders! That’s a lot of weight for a structure only designed to support 10-12 pounds. Understandably, this leads to neck and spine misalignments that cause pain, strain and other problems.

Signs that you may be suffering from tech neck include pain, tenderness, tingling and/or numbness in the neck, shoulders and upper back area. Muscle stiffness and more frequent headaches are other symptoms that interfere with everyday activities like working, socializing and athletic training.

Sports chiropractic can be used to address tech neck and other painful conditions that result from — and lead to — incorrect posture. Through gentle and regular adjustments, a sports chiropractor can ensure proper alignment to help correct posture and relieve muscle tension.

When the spine, neck and head are all in alignment the entire body is properly supported and better able to perform optimally.

In addition, there are things you can take to relieve the tension placed on your neck when using smart devices. By holding the phone up more in line with your face/eyes and placing your laptop on a table or other similar height surface (instead of your lap) you avoid the uncomfortable, downward angle of your chin that leads to hunching over. Through chiropractic you can learn how to self adjust your posture when necessary, as well as learn and perform certain exercises designed to reduce the tension that leads to muscular constrictions and further misalignments. Doing them throughout the day can offer long-term relief from neck pain.

The following yoga-based exercises are safe and easy to do at home.

Floor Cobra

Lay down on your stomach facing the floor with your legs stretched out behind you and your hands positioned under your shoulders. Keeping your neck in line with your spine, chin only slightly tucked, slowly lift up your arms and torso off the ground, while squeezing your shoulder blades together and keeping the palms even with the shoulders. Slowly lower back down. Repeat 10 times. If possible, lift your legs at the same time for an all-over spinal strengthening stretch.

Floor Cobra with Arms Outstretched

The set up and function of this stretching exercise is similar to the first, only the arms are outstretched behind you at a slight angle from the body with the palms facing the floor.

Keeping your chin slightly tucked, lift your legs and torso off the ground. Glutes should be engaged and shoulder blades squeezed together. Repeat 10 times.

Side Neck Stretch

Sit straight up with legs criss-crossed in front of you (criss cross applesauce for those of you with small children!)

Gently aim your right ear towards the right shoulder until you feel a stretch. Take your right hand across your head to your left ear and ever so slightly pull to elongate the neck muscles. To further enhance the stretch, raise your left arm about six inches off the ground and flex your fingers toward the sky. Hold 10-15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Shoulder Rolls

Sitting up straight in the same criss-crossed position place your hands on your knees and shrug your shoulders up close to your ears. Follow by lowering shoulders to the point that you feel the elongation in the neck. Repeat the exercise by rolling shoulders forward when you shrug them them, and back ward when you lower them. Repeat as many times as feels good

Cat/Cow

Cat and Cow can be done on hands and knees or in the criss-crossed position about with hands on the knees. Roll shoulders all the way forward and tuck your chin to the chest. You should feel an opening between the shoulder blades. Next, slowly press the chest out and forward while looking up toward the sky to provide a full expansion of the chest muscles and release tension in the neck. Repeat several times.

At Dynamic Sports Medicine we are happy to evaluate neck and shoulder pain from tech neck or other misalignment problems. Give us a call today.

Overcome Neck Pain: Essential Chiropractic Care for Athletes

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Admin

Neck Pain

Neck pain is one of the most commonly treated conditions by sport chiropractors because it can affect athletes from so many different kinds of sports. Golfers, tennis players, runners and swimmers, among others, come to us for relief because neck pain is keeping them from enjoying the sport they love.

There are many different reasons and presentations of neck pain. Faulty mechanics, multiple repetitive motions, lack of overall core strength and flexibility and/or an underlying spinal misalignment may all be contributing to an athlete’s pain.

No matter your sport, chiropractic care offers treatment for existing neck pain as well as preventative techniques for avoiding it in the future.

Swimming

Swimming is considered one of the safer sports as we age since it offers both low impact on the joints and muscle building potential from swimmers working against the weight of the water. Still, swimming neck pain is a common complaint. The reason for this is generally incorrect stroke mechanics. Instead of the swimmer keeping their head in a neutral, aligned position throughout the entire stroke (looking towards the bottom of the pool) the head is often tipped upwards (with a view of the end of the pool.) This, along with forcefully turning the neck only (as opposed to the full upper body) when taking a side breath, can over stress the upper spine and lead to neck pain.

Golf

A proper golf swing involves a major rotation of the spine while the shoulders and head stay forward facing and fairly stationary. This is an already awkward movement often complicated by a player sticking their head too far forward and putting too much torque on the back during the swing. This can leave the muscles of the shoulder and upper back stiff and tight and eventually lead to neck injury.

What’s more, golfers who try to play through their neck pain can end up with something called a “golfer’s shrug,” playing with their shoulders hunched toward their ears to compensate for stiff muscles and neck pain.

Tennis

Tennis is another sport that involves a lot of forceful twisting and turning, often accompanied by quick stopping and starting. Stretching and conditioning before and after play is necessary to avoid a tightening of the neck and shoulder muscles and to prevent sprains, strains and tears.

Neck pain during tennis can be from an acute strain during service or leftover stiffness from an awkward sleeping position or other injury prior to play. Either way, it makes it much less enjoyable, if not impossible, to play.

All Athletes are Susceptible

People in all types of athletic pursuits, even running, can deal with neck pain. Acute strain or injury, repetitive motion, awkward form or gait, and lack of core (or other muscle) strength can bench even the most dedicated sports enthusiast.

Sports chiropractic for neck pain not only offers traditional spinal adjustments for often immediate relief, but many effective complementary therapies like soft tissue manipulation, massage, and specialized stretches and exercises to keep you pain free. Contact us today.

Top 5 Benefits of Routine Chiropractic Care

Posted on December 21, 2021 by Admin

It is estimated that chiropractors care for 30 million Americans annually and those numbers keep rising each year. Chiropractic care is a natural, safe and holistic approach to spinal care. It is an effective way to address certain injuries and recurring pain that may put the spine in an abnormal state. Many people associate chiropractic with back and neck pain, but chiropractic therapy can improve function across your entire body. A wide range of patients seeking optimal wellness and pain relief can all benefit from routine chiropractic care.

If you haven’t been to a chiropractor before or only visit on occasion for specific care, there are several benefits to making routine chiropractic care part of your well being resolution.

Better Mobility

The type of activity most people perform on a daily basis exposes them to stress and tension, causing spinal misalignment which leads to pain and loss of mobility. Playing sports, running, sitting at a desk all day or working on your feet for hours at a time can cause misalignment. Chiropractic treatment works with a series of bone adjustments and stretches that helps to improve range of movement, mobility and reduces pressure on the joints. This also improves blood circulation which, as a result, improves blood oxygen within the muscles.

Pain Relief

Pain, usually in the neck and back, is one of the most common reasons for visiting a chiropractor. Whether it is pain related to a sports injury, an accident, faulty mechanics, multiple repetitive motions, lack of core strength and flexibility, or an underlying spinal misalignment, they may all contribute to pain. Chiropractic care for pain not only offers traditional spinal adjustments for immediate relief, but many effective complimentary therapies like soft tissue manipulation, massage, and specialized stretches and exercises will keep you pain free.

Shorter Healing Times

Even with the most proactive preventative care, sometimes sports injuries happen. Chiropractic care uses a variety of therapy options such as electrical pulse stimulation, dry needling, myofascial massage and other techniques to encourage faster and more complete healing. In fact, studies show that chiropractic care is often better than conventional therapy options at reducing pain and restoring function—and without prescription medications.

Prevention of further injury

Alignment issues cause unnecessary stress on the body and can often lead to more serious injury. With consistent chiropractic treatment, patients are at less at risk of further injury since their bodies are stronger and in proper alignment.

Improved Immune Function

One of the main causes of immune system problems comes from subluxations, or compression of nerve pathways. Our immune system is directly connected to our spinal health and if the spine is out of alignment, it can disrupt our entire nervous system. Thus, weakening our immunity, making some more prone to colds, flu and other illnesses. Chiropractic care combines a variety of spinal manipulation to help relieve compression that can improve your immune system function. Caring for misalignments at the source produces faster results and an effective pathway to improved health.

Chiropractic care can help relieve discomfort, speed healing, identify ways to prevent future injuries, and improve your overall wellness. If you are ready to bring your health routine to the next level in 2020, call Dynamic Sports Medicine today and schedule your visit!