In the case of clients who have returned after an injury, a mixture of physical therapy and massage might be necessary. Combining massage and physical therapy could help improve the treatments and speed up rehabilitation.
Both massage therapists in Waterloo help decrease inflammation and pain and increase muscle mobility and function. Massage may also be an effective supplement to physical therapy in order to reduce the strain caused by injuries or chronic pain.
In combination, physical therapy and massage therapy in Waterloo is a holistic treatment that offers a wide range of long-term as well as short-term benefits.
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy, sometimes referred to as physiotherapy, helps restore and enhance joint well-being to allow clients to improve their mobility and reduce suffering.
Therapy for physical injuries is performed by individual therapy. An allied health professional uses manipulative techniques to:
- Reduce discomfort
- Enhance joint mobility and joint functionality.
- Enhance coordination and balance
- Avoid recurrences of injury
- Manage the pain of chronic diseases like arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease
- Restore pelvic function and health
- Recover and prevent injuries sustained during sports.
In addition to manipulative techniques the treatment for physical therapy may additionally include additional therapies like electrical stimulation for muscles and pain and light therapy. It also includes treatment with cold and hot temperatures, as well as hydrotherapy.
The difference between massage therapy and physical therapy
Massage therapy and physical therapy share a similarity that they use manual manipulation for treating injuries within the body. While massage therapy in Waterloo targets your muscles, soft tissues as well as fascia and muscles and fascia, physical therapy concentrates on the whole musculoskeletal system.
A differentiator in physical therapy versus massage therapy is that the latter is usually used to treat particular ailments which need rehabilitation. Massage therapy is also able to assist in treating injuries, it’s popular as a rehabilitation therapy which can be utilized in conjunction with physical therapy to achieve optimal performance.
The value and benefits of massage therapy as part of physical therapy
Increase flexibility and the flexibility of motion
The degree of flexibility you have depends on the elasticity to stretch the Soft tissues (the muscles, connective tissue, and tendons). If your soft tissues are strained or injured, then there may be a problem with bending down, reaching for objects such as a ball, or achieving the full movement range when lifting weights.
The ability to move and flexibility are two aspects that go hand-in-hand. In general, joint dysfunction or injuries to the muscles that support the joint may limit the range of motion.
Massage therapy and therapy for physical rehabilitation are a good combination to improve flexibility, by stretching and relaxing the muscles fibers. At Restore Life Physiotherapy, we integrate these therapies to help you achieve better mobility and faster recovery.
Enhance position
Massage is beneficial to improve your posture since it assists in bringing your body back into its correct posture. The modern lifestyle, such as texts, work at computers or for long periods of time can result in muscles being stressed or weak. The result is bad posture. This can be seen as:
- Hunched, Slouchy shoulders
- Swayback
- Head tilted toward the forward
- Pelvic tilt
A poor posture could lead to various health problems such as neck pain, headaches, back, shoulder pain as well as a shaky gait while moving or walking. The two forms of therapy may be utilized to control hyperactive or weak muscles in order to bring the body in the proper alignment.
Reducing scar tissue
If you’ve been injured, your body develops scar tissue surrounding the area of injury. The adhesions may cause the body to feel pain, and restricted movements as well as the sensation of a prolonged inflammation, tightness, or itching. If the injury is not properly treated, can recur, which could delay healing for quite a long period.
Massage therapists and physical therapists can both help break down adhesions by using various methods and tools. Through regular therapy the scar tissue will be removed, resulting in better flexibility and less pain.
Increase circulation
The more circulation you have, the faster your muscles ‘ recovery. This is because healthy circulation provides the right amount of oxygen as well as nutrients to your muscles, which ease tension and stiffness.
Massage therapy as well as physical therapy can boost circulation dramatically. Massage can help move fluid through the congested zones, supplying them with the oxygen-rich blood they need in order to recover.
Relaxation of muscles
One of the biggest advantages of the practice of massage is relaxation in the muscles. If you are an athlete, or recuperating from injury the benefits of massage therapy can be beneficial in your mental and physical recuperation.
Muscle pain that is constant and tension, whether from training or injury could affect a person’s well-being, both mental and physical. Relaxation of muscles through massage may help in the treatment of physical therapy by helping the overworked muscles to relax and switch off.
Techniques for massage therapy include
Point release trigger
Massage therapists utilize trigger point therapy to relieve tension, pain, and knots within the muscle and fascia.
This kind that is known as myofascial relaxation will help connect the fascia around the muscles and bring relief to sore and tight trigger points throughout the body. The trigger point release is utilized in various areas, such as the pelvic floor shoulders, lower back, and pelvic floor.
Therapists using massage will employ their elbow, thumb, or palm to pinpoint trigger points using pressure.
Soft tissue massage
Soft tissues comprise every muscle, tendon, and skin throughout the body. The massage of soft tissue, in turn, is a way of restoring the flexibility and elasticity of muscles that are stretched and tight. muscles.
Massage for soft tissue involves an array of different levels, durations, and pressures for this purpose, and can be beneficial for those suffering pain, headaches, and tennis elbow. It can also help with tension, plantar fasciitis, improper posture, and arthritis.
Technique for Active Release
Massage therapists might employ an active release method (ART) in order to heal tissues that are prone to inflammation and scarring in the body.
Active release assists in treating various soft tissue injuries, as well as related pain due to the injuries. Similar to the deep-tissue massage ART may be utilized to relieve discomfort and other signs due to soft tissue injuries.
Myofascial release
Myofascial release can be described as a manual massage technique that helps relieve the tension in the fascia.
The fascia is a connective tissue between the muscles and the spine. When the fascia becomes tight during conditions such as myofascial joint pain syndrome muscles may be restrained, limiting movement, and may cause chronic pain due to this.
Myofascial releases work by placing delicate, long-lasting pressure on the muscles in pain. Manipulation and pressure are employed to loosen all areas with ridges until the tension is completely released.
Although many individuals will gain a single massage or the physical therapy regimen combining both will help patients recuperate faster and more effectively.
The combination of massage therapy and physical therapy ensures that patients get access to a range of therapies and therapies that help to build strength and mobility, ease discomfort and improve motion. For personalized care, physiotherapy massage in Waterloo offers expert support to enhance your recovery journey.Restore Life Physiotherapy provides courses that are recognized by the industry teaching essential techniques of massage so you can assist clients to speed get their physical therapy on track and recuperation.