Soft Tissue Therapy is a form of manual physical therapy where your licensed PT uses hands-on techniques on your muscles, ligaments and fascia in order to break adhesions and optimize your muscle function. Types of soft tissue therapy , Soft Tissue Release (STR), Post isometric relaxation (PIR), Myofascial Release (MFR), Trigger Point Therapy (TPT). Its necessary to practice soft tissue therapy on tendons as well as muscular tissues. The physique’s soft tissues degenerate when inadequate healing happens, and over time the tissues degrade. Degeneration could be attributable to many factors including age, intense use, improper motion, weakened muscular tissues placing further stress on other tissues, disease, etc. The applied strain on the biceps because it lengthens or contracts will dislodge knots, adhesions or scar tissue within the soft tissue. Soft tissue therapy improves our capacity to maneuver in natural movement patterns and reduces biomechanical compensation and the risk of injury. Do you expertise pain when you touch specific areas of your soft tissue or when you move? Pain is strong communication from your body that one thing is wrong and can possibly sign major cellular trauma exists.
Many soft tissue therapy methods apply strain in numerous instructions primarily based on these striations. The soft tissue aligns in rows of striations throughout the complete body.
• Soft Tissue is made up of trillions of small cells which are answerable for producing, absorbing and coordination forces. Soft tissue therapy helps your physique to natural heal broken tissue and accelerate the Work – Recovery Cycle that each athlete experiences in coaching.
• Soft Tissue is every little thing under the pores and skin besides your bones and organs and is responsible for creating all types of human motion and efficiency, which makes upkeep of these tissues important for athletes.
Soft Tissue Therapy Helpful
This clinically confirmed soft tissue treatment is really helpful for situations similar to carpal tunnel, lumbar strain, Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. Therapies include Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage, reflexology, acupressure, and manual lymphatic drainage massage. Swedish massage supplies broad, flowing, soothing strokes , usually applied with a lotion or massage oil from distal to proximal areas on extremities. Aromatherapy has typically been combined with massage during which chosen scented oils are blended with the similar old massage oil to enhance the beneficial effects of both bodily and emotional well-being. Reflexology focuses on manual pressure to specific areas of the ft that, in conventional Chinese drugs, are linked with remote areas of the physique.
There are near 650 muscle tissue within the body that incorporate billions of microscopic muscles fibers and sarcomeres, that are sufficiently small to fit on the highest of a pin. Commonly, our muscle fibers have been regarded as the ‘motor’ to our movement. However, the true motor to movement lies deeper inside the muscle fibers and sarcomeres. Here is a diagram illustrating probably the most notable soft tissue constructions and the way they connect to our bones.
- Avoid pain when performing soft tissue therapy and give your physique extra time to recovery while also in search of the steering and help of an expert.
- Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization remedy is a therapy that regenerates wholesome soft tissues, and eliminates or reduces undesirable scar tissue that could be inflicting pain or movement restrictions.
- Stretching restores blood move and will increase oxygen levels in the soft tissue whereas clearing out lingering or extreme Calcium and Acetylcholine.
An athlete can successfully take up pressure and impact in sports activities and daily actions by diffusing the kinetic energy all through the soft tissue. Everyday the body is absorbing an array of forces and sports activities is an area where kinetic power is intensified in phrases of frequency, duration and magnitude. Force attack the body from a mess of instructions – a while concurrently, and the responsiveness of the soft tissue will decide how properly an athlete can catch or take in these forces.
Soft Tissue Therapy can help with
- Plantar fasciitis
- Headaches
- Upper back pain and tension
- Postural issues associated with desk-based occupations
- Shoulder protraction (slouching)
- Face tension and associated eye pain
- Tennis elbow
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Lower back pain
- Post-operation rehab
- Pre & Post Ski Strength and Rehab
- Arthritis
So, what techniques are used in Soft Tissue Therapy?
Soft Tissue Release (STR)
Method: I apply pressure on your affected muscle to create a temporary attachment point, and then move your muscle into a pain-free stretch.
Reduces: pain.
Works because: STR targets specific areas of tension within a muscle, making it useful for targeting muscles that are difficult to stretch actively (yourself) and for isolating a muscle within a group of muscles that would normally stretch together. [2]
Post isometric relaxation (PIR)
Good for: Tight hamstrings, which can contribute to back pain.
Method: I very gently stretch your hamstrings passively, to the point of first resistance, so you should only feel a very mild stretch, if at all. You would then resist my push very lightly – with about 10-20% of your force, for 10 seconds. You would then relax, and I would use this to gently stretch your hamstring a little further, until the next point of resistance. We would repeat this together 3 to 5 times. [3]
Reduces: muscle spasms.
Myofascial Release (MFR)
Wait…what is Fascia!? Fascia is a connective tissue that wraps around and in between every structure in our body, including our muscles – it is very thin, elastic, but tough.
Method: I will apply a sustained and gentle pressure into the problem fascia. This can take a long time, up to 15 minutes on one area alone. This technique is used without oils/creams.
Reduces: fascia tension.
Trigger Point Therapy (TPT)
A trigger point may be that area you have been referring to as a ‘knot’.
TPT is unfortunately not that relaxing, but it is very effective. A trigger point is an area that when pressed on causes pain somewhere else – for instance, a TP on your shoulder may transfer pain up your neck and into your head, like a tension headache. [6]
Good for: Shoulder & neck pain.
Method: I apply specific and direct pressure on to your trigger point with my thumb or a tool.
Reduces: Pain.
Soft Tissue Therapy is the management, manipulation, and rehabilitation of soft tissues of the body including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It is applicable not just to sports people but to anybody wishing to guard against or recover from a soft tissue injury.
The techniques used by soft tissue therapists have been developed to ensure effective and efficient results are gained from each massage given. Soft Tissue Therapy may:
- Improve circulation and lymphatic flow
- Assist in the removal of metabolic waste
- Sedate or stimulate nerve endings
- Increase or decrease muscle tone
- Increase or decrease muscle length
- Remodel scar tissue when required
- Assist in mental preparation for sporting participation
You do not need to be a sports performer to benefit from Soft Tissue Therapy. The benefits above can also help relieve the many day to day problems, repetitive strain injury, sprains, tension, fatigue, that everyone experiences. Many Soft Tissue Therapists work with a great range of clients in assisting with preventive treatment and injury recovery.
By ensuring you use an SMA practitioner, you ensure that you will be receiving an individually tailored, high quality massage. Depending on the type and timing of activity these benefits can be achieved for anyone.
If you are a sports performer, of any level, a sports specific massage can be beneficial at various stages of participation. For example:
- The conditioning / training phase
- Pre competition
- Inter competition
- Post competition
- Post travel
- Injury prevention
- Injury recovery
Regardless of your experiences in sport or exercise, whether you exercise socially or compete to an international level – Soft Tissue Therapy may have something to offer you.
Members of the SMA will be able to identify anyone for whom Soft Tissue Therapy would be ill-advised or detrimental to their short or long-term well being. They will assess each individual and provide the appropriate massage techniques, and advise on alternative action if required.
Soft Tissue Therapy Auto Injury
Soft tissue injuries are a common occurrence after a car accident, with injuries to ligaments, muscles, and tendons often requiring physical therapy for proper healing. Bursitis, sprains, contusions, and tendonitis are just a few of the common types of soft tissue injuries that may result from a motor accident.
Bursitis involves the swelling or irritation of fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between tendons, joints, and muscles, often affecting the knee, elbow, shoulder, or hip. Sprains occur when ligaments are twisted or wrenched out of shape, typically involving the ankles, knees, or wrists. Contusions, or bruises, may result from direct impact with a hard or blunt object, while tendonitis occurs when tendons are irritated or inflamed.
Adequate rest, ice compression, and physical therapy are typically the recommended treatment options for most soft tissue injuries. However, in cases where surgery is necessary, physicians may recommend it. Proper documentation of soft tissue injuries and the treatment provided may be crucial in legal proceedings, as they can be difficult to prove due to the lack of external markers.
When recommending a physical therapy network for clients who have suffered soft tissue injuries, personal injury attorneys must consider several factors. The network should have various clinics for the client to choose from, offering a variety of treatment options that match the patient’s needs. The network should also be capable of providing treatment on a lien basis, allowing patients to defer payment until the personal injury case is resolved.
Choosing the right physical therapy network for soft tissue injuries can be challenging, but it can have a significant impact on both the client’s physical and financial well-being. With the right physical therapy network, personal injury attorneys can ensure the best possible outcome for their clients in court.