Repetitive Motion injuries are the most common injuries in the United States and make up 50% of all injuries among athletes. While these injuries do not seem as serious as breaking a leg, they cause the discomfort and issues that can lead to chronic pain. Limited range of motion can affect your ability to work or do other tasks.
The most common types of repetitive motion injuries:
While there are more than these, there are different names that some of them might go by, which is why they are listed together.
- Tendonitis: Swimmer’s Shoulder, Runner’s Knee, Tennis Elbow, Trigger Finger
- Carpal Tunnel
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Bursititis
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Kyphosis
These are not the only Repetitive Motion Injuries, but they are the most common.
How does Massage help with RMIs?
Massage helps with repetitive motion injuries through a few different ways. First, addressing knots and tension helps relax muscles. Deep Tissue Massage addresses multiple layers of soft tissue that can be affected by these injuries. Neuromuscular Therapy can help muscles to work through bad movement patterns. Trigger Point Therapy can open muscular tissue up for better performance.
A knot is a condensed area of tension with a build up of lactic acid. When this buildup occurs, it puts pressure on the circulatory system and on muscle fibers, which prevents the fibers from functioning well. This can and does lead to muscles being too tense and prevents full range of motion.
Range of motion is important because movement is life. You should be able to raise your arms over your head, sit on the floor with your legs out in front of you, and turn your head to see you blind spot with no pain. If you can’t do one of those actions, you need to stretch and get a massage!
According to WebMD or Johns Hopkins, Physical Therapy or Pain Management strategies are listed as possible treatments for Repetitive Motion Injuries. While we are not Physical Therapists, we do offer deep tissue manipulation. We have many Physical Therapists who refer to us for the manual soft tissue techniques that they either don’t want to do or want to focus more on the strengthening portion of their care.
Massage is listed as an effective way of dealing with and managing chronic pain by multiple sources. This is because the direct work done to these soft tissues allows the tissues to heal. Massage and manipulation of the tissues helps the blood flow to that area, which helps to heal it. Whether you have tendonitis or carpal tunnel, we can help alleviate some of those pains.