Utilize the Treatment Options the Pros Use
If you‘ve trained for a race, you’ve undoubtedly experienced that moment when you were trying to determine whether to stop training and rest or fight through pain and discomfort in order to maintain your mileage. This is the moment of truth. Your choice will determine your body’s decision to heal or adapt.
To Rest or To Run?
If your decision isn’t to immediately rest, which is not always an option, your body has no choice but to adapt. It does this by forming scar tissue and fibrotic adhesions within the affected tissue in order to help maintain its integrity. This fibrotic tissue is less functional than the natural soft tissues. It restricts motion and in some cases it causes weakness, pain and discomfort. This is your body’s attempt to brace the area so you can continue running. Though it has a short term benefit, it is detrimental in the long term.
If the decision is to rest, treatment may still be necessary to ensure proper healing of the dysfunctional soft tissues so that when training continues, the discomfort doesn’t. Treatment plans that include rest from training tend to heal quicker when compared to those that overlap with training. Outcomes may vary based on the intensity of training, type of training or degree of injury.
State-of-the-Art Treatment Options
Soft tissue treatments have become exceedingly popular in the sports world. Colleges, universities, professional sports organizations, Ironman events and Olympic athletes all utilize some sort of soft tissue therapy. Graston Technique® and Active Release Technique® (A.R.T.) are among the most popular and innovative techniques being utilized today. Both of these techniques require the provider to undergo further training beyond their area of expertise.
Graston Technique is an advanced form of soft tissue mobilization. It is an instrument-assisted therapy and is used to detect and release fibrous restrictions that produce pain, weakness and functional limitations.
Active Release Technique is a patented, state of the art soft tissue-based massage technique that treats issues with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. It incorporates hands on massage and active movements in its treatments.
Why Treatment is Necessary
These techniques focus on the treatment of fibrotic tissue due to acute or chronic repetitive use injuries, which commonly ail the running community. It is important that these injuries be treated by a trained and certified provider as soon as possible to inhibit the body from constructing more adhesive tissue.
When these techniques are applied correctly, the body is allowed to heal and restore the tissue to a state of proper function. This allows runners to continue their training schedules and perform to the best of their ability. Don’t let unnecessary injuries stop you from reaching your optimal performance.
I have completed training in both of these techniques and am available at the phone number listed below for any questions you may have regarding these treatments. If you are wondering if they are for you, if you are looking for someone in your area that provides these treatments, or if you just want to know more, please don’t hesitate to call or email. I am also offering free consultations. Just call our clinic and ask for an appointment or consultation with myself.
