Sports Massage incorporates similar massage techniques as other forms of massage, but it also includes hydrotherapy treatments, flexibility stretching, and even some strength training principles. Fro any athletic regime sports massage can add that extra ingredient that will aide in developing a complete balanced workout. Athletes that participate in high performance sports and who integrate spots massage into their routine are going to reap the reconstructive benefits that sport massage offers.

Athletics are hard on the body, and a total conditioning program needs to be balanced with something that will enable safe and effective recovery in-between training. When a body is continually pushed beyond its limits sports massage can be the additional remedy in which to curb stiffness and soreness. Sports Massage can also initiate a faster recovery time and relieve those strains that could ultimately lead to injury.

Sports massage stimulates circulation within the venous system of the body, as well as uses muscle friction and compression to alleviate knots and tightness within the body, preventing some overuse injuries and pain. Trigger points are most times the culprit of soreness and can be attributed for someone who has a smaller range of flexibility. These sore spots within the muscles exude pain when pressed and which can affect larger areas of the muscle if not attended to. Sports massage directly approaches the issue at hand, and is quoted as using “specific application…to achieve a specific goal”

There are different levels and techniques found in sports massage, each one have different purposes and outcomes. These four types are specifically designed to meet a clients needs wherever the find themselves in the spectrum of athleticism.

Pre-event Sports Massage is usually much shorter in length than other types of sports massage. This type of massage is most commonly administered a few days or even hours before the activity. In the case of the runner before a race, the hamstrings and quadriceps might be the main focus, since this type of massage tends to be more isolated to one area of the body. Whatever area of the body is most likely the part that will bear the brunt of the strenuous activity, will most likely be worked on.

Post Event Sports Massage is one that takes place within an hour or two of the activity, and allows for immediate tension release. Its benefit is that it alleviates the affects of onset muscle soreness that usually will occur 24-48 hours after the event takes place. Restorative Sports Massage can happen in the middle of training or partaking in an activity. Most professional athletes will have sports massage therapist awaiting them on the sidelines for a quick restorative massage between plays. Rehabilitative Sports Massage is a type of massage focused on restoring an already injured part of the body, and coaxing it back into balance within the body.

A bulging disk is therefore considered a secondary condition and is usually only identified through diagnostic image tests or routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Postural imbalances can add to the potential of a bulging disk, and since Pilates based rehab is exceptional in realigning the spine and heightening body awareness it is a great alleviator of the condition. Rudimentary movements that are executed improperly over time cause injuries. Steps need to be taken to rectify faulty postures, and to lubricate joints through increase flexibility exercises, and Pilates is one of those most important steps.

One case study from Rehab Management Journal found that a client who suffered from a bulging disc greatly decreased the severity of her condition once she introduced Pilates based rehab into her rehabilitation regime. Her pain level on a scale of 1-10 was a 7 at the beginning of her treatments, after 12 sessions she had lowered that pain scale to 4. Pain limited this client’s range of motion and she was charted at only having 15% of her flexibility at the beginning of treatment. After the twelve sessions her range of motion around the area had increased 35 degrees. For her rehabilitation it was found that soft tissue work and joint mobilization greatly improved her condition as well as alleviated pain.

By engaging the whole body in a quest to address a bulging disk, an entirely new rhythm of everyday activity is found. Pilates based rehab introduces an energy efficient methodology of movement that will change the way you pick up a box or run a mile. Its wellness proponents are easy on the joints and especially on the lower back where a bulging disk may be occurring. This makes it a perfect addition to any lower back or spinal abnormality rehabilitation program.

The advantage to participating in a low-impact recovery program, like a Pilates based rehabilitation program, is that for a bulging disk the area may be inflamed and even be painful. Yet it can be addressed without adding to the level of discomfort that one may feel during the exercises themselves. The exercises found in Pilates based rehab highlight gliding motions, incorporate purposeful and effective breathing patterns.

Since the low back is found within the trunk of the body, it is essential for long term recovery that the core muscles are used and strengthened. When the muscles within the trunk of the body are weak that is when an individual is at the greatest risk for developing harmful and improper postural alignment and muscular imbalances, which can result in a bulging disk.

If someone has this condition it can be overlooked or go unnoticed until an injury takes place, or reacts to chronic overuse, or takes part in compulsive exercise forcing the underdeveloped synovial tissue to become inflamed which in turn becomes Plica Syndrome.

The first need for those who suffer from this syndrome is a sound plan of attack to reduce the inflammation. First, strength exercises needed to be introduced through a form of rehabilitation. Pilates’ rehabilitation is a gentle way to dive into strengthening weakened or imbalanced muscles in the upper and lower leg without putting further pressure on the injured area. The muscle groups that need the most attention when it comes to increasing strength and taking the pressure off of the knee are the quadriceps, the hamstring, and the calf.

The backbone of Pilates’ rehabilitation is to understand the modality by which our bodies were made to design properly, and how to introduce those methods into a daily exercise regime in order to reestablish homeostasis in the body and all of it’s connecting parts. Pilates is rooted in progressive resistance exercise, which allows for injury assimilation gradually, while increasing the overall health of the mind and body.

Physical therapy is also a great pairing in the recovery process with R.I.C.E. Having programs designed to improve the condition, with the focus being on active recovery, greatly benefits those will knee injuries in the long run. When the knee is prompted to engage in safe yet effective exercises it will be able to acclimate to normal activity much faster and with more ease than just rest alone can give. The goal of physical therapy is to reintroduce a person to their previous active lifestyle, without the injury continuing to get worse, or never fully healing.

Pillates-based rehab has also had much success as an added step in the process of healing knee injuries. Because of its gentle approach to healing, Pilates-based rehab allows for the entire body to be active while a patient may still be in recovery. Muscular imbalances are one of the leading causes of knee injuries, and Pilates aims to retrain the body’s functionality to work as one cohesive unit. This provides an avenue for not only the injury to improve but also drastic improvements will be made in postural habits, quality of movement, mind-body connection, and core strength.

When it comes to specific conditions like Chrondomalcia, physical therapy and Pilates act as viable treatment options as well.  Physicians will often recommend low impact activity, such a cycling, swimming, walking, and Pilates and yoga. Surgery is of course an option, but if a holistic approach is preferred, since may patients wish to forego the invasiveness of a procedure these low-impact exercises will help improve the condition without surgery.

For torn ligaments such as the ACL, PCL, and LCL it is important to strengthen the muscles surrounding the injury. Since rigorous or weight bearing activity is strictly discouraged, it can be somewhat challenging to improve strength surrounding the injury without furthering the damage in the area of concern. With the exercises and modalities that physical therapy and Pilates based rehab offer, a client can heal the injury and increase the overall health of their body at the same time. While the exercises, poses, and movements in Pilates and physical therapy are challenging to the body and build strength, they avoid the risk that more conventional forms of exercise and training may impose.

There are many causes of knee injuries, but proper alignment, heightened body awareness and core strengthening when balanced with low impact cardio, will result in a lower chance of a knee injury in an individual.

The most common cause of a knee injury is sports related. Any recreational activity that involves kicking, stopping, twisting, or turning heightens the chances of a strain. However, arthritis of the knees, Osteoporosis, the natural aging process, and poor health habits are also big factors in a knee injury cause.

The knee is the largest joint in the body. Since it is so, there is a cushion of cartilage surrounding the knee, which absorbs shock from impact from sudden changes of movement or weight bearing exercises. With the knee being the biggest joint in the body there is more cartilage surrounding the joint, and therefore creates a higher potential for tearing in some cases. In addition to more cartilage, tendons as well as muscles surround the knee. Where the upper leg and the lower leg meet, the knee acts as the hinge between the two bones. The femur is the upper leg bone, and the tibia and fibula are the lower leg bones.

Ligament issues rank among the top types of knee injuries and happen quite often. When an athlete does stop short, or change the body’s direction quickly, sometimes the force of motion can cause for torn ligaments within the knee. There are a few ligaments in the knee that can be affected by this type of injury. Familiar terms for what type of ligament is most often injured in this instance are the anterior cruciate ligament (which is commonly known as the ACL), the medial collateral posterior cruciate ligaments (PCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

Another condition called Chondromalacia is a great threat to knee health. Underneath the kneecap, a deterioration of the cartilage occurs which leads to a softening of the knee joint. This can develop from blunt trauma to the knee, muscular imbalances, overuse, or improper alignment of the kneecap. When “friction” is found in and around the kneecap, pain begins to become a part of the everyday routine. With this condition, walking down stairs, hills, or bending the knee will always be followed by a dull pain. The uncomfortable sensation of “rubbing” that takes place under the kneecap will worsen as you age, as well as if you are trying to maintain the same level of activity previous to an injury.

An inflammation of the tendons can occur from overuse, this is technically called tendonitis. This cause of knee injuries will be accompanied by tenderness in the knee, right where the cap (patella) meets the bone of the leg. This is also called “Jumpers Knee” and sometimes happens from quick or sudden impact, movements, or just general fatigue. On the heels of tendonitis, if a tingling or burning sensation runs itself along the inside of the knee, it may be Iliotibial Band Syndrome, which is another type of knee injury.

This spinal disc that has the propensity to bulge out does assume a more stiff tenure as time goes by. This rigid essence doesn’t bode well for the spine, which thrives in a fluid environment. As the elasticity is lost this spinal disk within the column can rupture. The nerves surrounding the spinal cord can become pinched due to this rupturing.  The usual space between each vertebrae becomes lessened, and sin some cases can become non-existent. A result of the tightened space between vertebrae’s adds to the potential for back compression.

A herniated disc can happen suddenly, if an unexpected fall occurs or a car accident. It can also evolve overtime from a consistent improper torque of the spine, or bad postural habits developed at work or in daily activities. These poor habits create a breeding field that first affect the body’s alignment and then can begin to develop the inner workings of the spine itself.

Tingling and numbness, as well as shooting pains through the legs can be symptoms of a herniated disc. When the back is compressed, the nerve endings within the spine will begin sending out abnormal sensations, and affect the body’s ability to correctly signal pain to the central system of the body.

An MRI may need to be administered to accurately provide a diagnosis of a herniated disc. Since most all MRI’s will detail spinal abnormalities the findings must be weighed against a physician’s examination to have a true diagnosis. A physician will check reflexes, muscle strength, and sensation response in order to determine or confirm MRI results.

Treatment for a herniated disc can be administered in a variety of ways. Initially if the pain from the herniated disk is severe resting the injury should be the first line of defense. Activity modification is the next necessary step. This modification needs to instated so as to reestablish a new way of moving. Pilates based rehab specializes in such education. Its whole-body approach to healing is holistic and yet ascertains certain elements of physical therapy making it a well-rounded option for herniated disc alleviation.

However, prevention of a herniated disk should be at the top of anyone’s list that holds their health in high regard. Maintaining a healthy weight will relieve stress in the back, since imbalances often occur from disproportionate body weight. Heightening posture awareness through Pilates or yoga will allow for the correction of improper alignment. If you smoke, quit. This is another addition in the long list of anti-smoking campaigns, since smoking can increase the risk of a disc related injury.

When in the context of degenerative disc disease, the operative words “degenerative disc” is the explanation within itself. The degenerating discs within the spinal column that are affected by this condition, will progressively worsen however the symptoms (pain, immobilization, soreness) will most likely improve over time if properly addressed.

The causes of degenerative disc disease do have close ties to the natural aging process of our bodies. The discs that make up the spine are soft and easily compressible. The purpose of these discs within the vertebrae is to absorb shock. They are also the primary movers of the back, which allow it for its flexibility, bending capabilities and twisting proficiency. What cannot be avoided is that as we age, fluid will be lost within the spine. Although no part of the spine is safe from degenerative disc disease, it is more common in the lower part of the back where it tends to be more prone to compression.

There are certain conditions within the body that happen before degenerative disc disease is developed. When the cartilage breaks down between the discs in the back a condition called Osteoarthritis occurs. The cartilage acts as protection to the spine, and when this “cushion’ of cartilage is compromised pain results and the spine is more vulnerable to disease. Herniated discs as well as Spinal stenosis (“the narrowing of the spinal canal”) are also common culprits in the development of degenerative disk disease.

Symptoms of degenerative disc disease may reveal themselves as acute pains in the neck or back. But this is widely dependent on each person, since some people who suffer from the condition cite no pain at all. No matter how severe the damage it seems that each person’s body reacts differently. The pain is also more prevalent when someone is in a moving pattern, such as: sitting, standing, bending, reaching, and squatting.

It is recommended that when trying to treat degenerative disc disease ice or heat modalities have proven to be quite effective. Pilates based- rehab is also an option for those seeking a gentle remedy to a potentially extremely painful condition. Since Pilates focuses on strengthening the core, it can take some of the pressure of the back by reeducating a client on postural patterns. Once the back can be alleviated of some of the responsibility it carries, and the abdomen (when the core muscles are properly engaged), the compression and fatigue within the back can being to lift and can improve degenerative disc symptoms.

Some hydrotherapy, massage, and physical therapy can also be beneficial to a person suffering this condition, however treatment is widely dependent upon how sever the condition is. Once the aforementioned conditions are involved, Osteoarthritis, herniation of a disc, or spinal stenoisis, surgery is sometimes an option.

There are a few recommended treatments for neck pain. Medication is the “quick fix”, which will dull the pain but not heal it. Chiropractic visits have been used; physical therapy, and even acupuncture are also options for those seeking relief from the pain.

Pilates based rehabilitation does not only relieve the pain, but it begins the healing process from the inside out. One constant recommendation for neck pain, all across the board, is active recovery. Letting an injury remain in its state will not perpetuate change. Physical therapy does focus on the injured area allowing for stimulus within the neuromuscular circuitry of the neck, but the main difference between physical therapy and Pilates is the approach to treatment.

Whenever a muscle comes under stress there are reasons why that injury took place. Sometimes an injury does happen instantaneously from an outside force, such as a car crash or is sports related but more often than not an injury is years in the making. Pilates uses its innovative approach to exercise to retrain faulty patterns of movement that have created divots in the landscape of our health. Sleeping on one side of the body, slight spinal abnormalities, and poor posture could all be the potential culprits for neck pain. Without changing the behavior that caused the injury, healing will only be temporary.

Pilates uses each muscle surrounding the injury and even recruits areas not affected by injury to rebalance an off-center pattern of movement. While its strengthens the stabilizing muscles within the body, a safe haven “bed” of sorts is created. Within this “bed” seeds of injury prevention and correction can begin to grow. Once you can change the way your body moves, you can begin to not only heal an injury temporarily but also remove the situational matter in which fed the promotion of the injury in the first place.

The eight basic principles found in Pilates rehabilitation is: alignment, relaxation, breathing, concentration, centering, ease of movement, coordination, and endurance. When the body can begin to re-train itself to accept these eight principles it instinctively begins the healing process. When the correct muscles do the work, there is a lower chance of overuse or weakening of the muscles. This imbalance within the body is what causes injuries in the first place.

Stress is an indicator of mental-muscular imbalance. With a neck injury, stress acts as the evidence of an outside force causing tension within the muscles surrounding the central nervous center. This can be solved through Pilates-based rehabilitation. When body movement flows, the strain of everyday stress is melted away and replaced with a higher ability to handle stress and allocate energy, not to mention heal the injury in a safe and timely fashion.

The neck acts as the connector between our mind and our entire being. Where the spinal cord meets the brain, an encasement of flexors, extensors, rotators and lateral flexors is found. Within the house of the neck, all planes of movement can be achieved, making it unique. In the framework of the body, the neck tends to be one of the more sensitive areas and often bears the brunt of stress. The old saying “a pain in the neck” rings true, but neck pain is usually an indicator of another underlining problem.

Most people blame stress for their neck injuries or headaches. When our muscles tighten in the jaw, neck and at the base of the neck, stress does accumulate. Whenever a muscle is tight, whether it is a large muscle group or a small one (like the longus colli, capitis and infra hyoid flexors found in the neck), stiffness can lead to injury. Some neck pain and headaches can stem from soft-tissue dysfunctions like TMJ, but stress isn’t the only factor in neck pain causes.

Neck pain can happen due to an awkward sleeping position, poor office stature, poor functional posture at home or at play or even a pinched nerve within the spinal column. When poor posture is to blame, the position of the head is greatly compromised and will gradually move forward. With each inch that the head moves away from the line of the body, an additional 10 pounds of force is added to the neck and upper back muscles.

When the range of motion within the neck is limited all other movements are affected. Neck injuries tend to be serious, because the neck serves as the “ball” in the body’s “joint” of movement. Most physicians tend to treat headaches, or neck pain with medication. However, medication can only mask the problem and not “fix” the instigator of the pain. Because of this, postural education needs to be reintroduced to the body; joint mobilization concentration needs to be practiced, as well as implementation of an upper body-conditioning regime. The symptom of the pain needs not to only be diagnosed, but it needs to be treated. Through routine movement and conditioning this can be made possible.

Neck health isn’t usually on the top of the list for people trying to get “into shape”, however what isn’t realized, is how the neck can dictate the entire health, flexibility, and efficiency of the body. Pilates based-rehab is the perfect combination of control and gentility when neck pain becomes an issue in the quality of everyday living.

Today, massage is still wide received as an integral part of most rehabilitation programs. Massage therapy has even benefited those who have dealt with chronic conditions, diabetes, immunity inhibition, high blood pressure, fatigue, low back pain, and many forms of depression, not to mention much more. One of the major attributes that massage therapy can introduce is the alleviation of everyday stress and tension. Stress has been linked to illness, depression, and sleep depravation, making it a fierce predator against whole-body health. Millions of people today suffer from the aftereffects of stress and turn to massage therapy for assistance.

Massage therapy is a series of techniques that “work” the muscular framework of the body by the initialization of soft tissue manipulation. It is a “touch therapy” process in which a certified massage therapist will assess the necessary changes that need to be made in the body to restore it to health. The goal of rubbing the body is to stimulate friction within the tissues.

Another benefit of massage therapy is its “somatic” approach to healing. This is similar to Pilates-based therapy, yoga, and Pilates itself since the definition means “of the body”. Its approach to wellness is through the portal of the “whole-body” perspective. Instead of just the basic physiology of massage therapy being introduced to your body, a mental awareness is also promoted. When physical tension is released, mental exercitation is increased. Most people will feel the immediate affects of relaxation and mental invigoration moments after a massage is completed.

The variety of massage therapy practices can add up to over 250 different kinds of implementation. Each type of massage introduces different aspects of basic “body work”. The basics of massage include: stroking, kneading, tapping, compression, friction, vibration, and pressure. Some massages include hot stones, aromatherapy oils, and water pressure to spotlight certain parts of the body.

Massage therapy is a great addition to any healthcare routine. Experts have accounted that nearly ninety percent of diseases are tension and stress related. Stress can physically change our appearance, undoubtedly speeding up the inevitable aging process. It also affects the internal clockwork of our body chemistry, and can wear down the efficiency of our organs.

Even though today we consider massages to be a luxury or a way to “treat ourselves”, it can be more than just a stone in the bedrock of our overall health- it can be an eminent necessity to maintain a healthy balance between activity and relaxation.