Massage Therapy and Repetitive Strain Injuries

There is no question that traditional therapy is the greatest option for those struggling with a Repetitive Strain Injury. From Trigger Finger to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, conservative therapy generates the best results, limited side effects (if any), faster results and long-lasting relief.

There are many types of traditional remedies that provide various positive benefits to an individual. Massage Therapy is a good conservative treatment that provides great results on its own, and even better results when combined with a stretch and exercises.

Massage is used to help you relax and lengthen firm, restrictive muscles, break down scar tissue in damaged muscles, reduce adhesions on affected tendons at their point of attachment to the muscle or to the bone, remove toxins from muscle tissues and increase overall circulation and nutrient delivery towards the associated tissues. All of these wonderful benefits help overworked muscles to be able to relax and injured muscles to get better. The problem is this. Massage Therapy does not correct the muscle instability causing the Repetitive Strain Injury. Massage Therapy can drastically aid the rehabilitation or treatment process, but when a muscle has been injured and has atrophied to any significant degree, or a muscle has gone into a state of chronic hypertonicity, other therapeutic elements has to be added to the treatment regimen so as to completely get rid of the Repetitive Strain Injury.

An integral part of Repetitive Strain Injury treatment would be the implementation of a stretch and exercise routine specifically designed to develop structural integrity and muscle balance where the injury exists. If the injury is Tennis Elbow, there must be an equality of strength between the wrist and elbow flexors, wrist and elbow extensors, and wrist and forearm pronators and supinators. By creating strong flexible muscles surrounding the particular joint, that joint will no longer be highly susceptible to Repetitive Strain Injuries.

The integration of Massage therapy, stretches, exercises and hydrotherapy is a highly effective treatment protocol for various kinds of injuries. An example of a therapy sequence for a 'chronic injury', no matter the affected area, should follow along these lines:

Hydrotherapy Heat - Heat to enhance circulation to the area, making the soft tissue relaxed and flexible.

Massage Phase-I - Specific massage treatment utilizing Trigger Point Release techniques to release muscle spasm as well as Transverse Friction Massage to break down adhesions.

Stretch - Stretch excessively restrictive tissues to increase their length and reduce their compression of underlying tissues.

Exercise - Execute conditioning exercises for the affected tissues so as to lessen tensile strain around the injured area, heal micro-tears and increase healing nutrients to the injured area. Strong muscles create stability which will help prevent upcoming recurrence of micro-tears to a formerly affected region.

Massage Phase-II - Perform light Petrissage and Effleurage towards the heart to get rid of the toxins created from undergoing Trigger Point Release, Transverse Friction Massage, stretches and exercises.

Hydrotherapy Cold - Cool the injured tissues in an elongated position as to not lose range-of-motion (ROM) on the affected tissues and to further get rid of toxins from the area.

Massage Therapy and the involvement of the techniques listed above work well in eliminating chronic Repetitive Strain Injuries. Any one element by itself is OK, but by applying several sound conservative techniques, the success rate of the treatment grows dramatically.